Derby have cranked up the pressure on Chelsea to resolve Frank Lampard’s future after insisting he is due back to work for them this week.
The Championship Rams are still waiting for Premier League Chelsea to make an official approach for their boss.
The Chelsea legend and leading scorer is set to become Blues’ new manager to replace Maurizio Sarri who quit for Juventus .
But County officials insist that Lampard is due back at the end of this week to work for them.
The ex-England international, who steered Derby to sixth and the play-off final in his first season in management, has been on holiday abroad with his family.
But the club claim he is due back later this week to plan and prepare for the start of their pre-season next Monday.
Derby’s players are due to start training on July 1 before heading to America for a 10-day training camp later in the week. The Rams will be based in Sarasota, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and will play three pre-season friendlies in America.
Derby have offered Lampard a lucrative new deal in a bid to keep him out of Chelsea’s clutches.
But they will not stand in his way if Chelsea meet the £4million compensation package for Lampard and his coaching team of former Blues staff.
Mirror Sport understands Lampard has had his heart set on Chelsea for some time and was planning to go even if Derby had won promotion to the Premier League.
