Derby County are ready to accept a £4m compensation fee from Chelsea for Frank Lampard.
The Chelsea legend is set to replace Maurizio Sarri at Stamford Bridge after the Blues reached an agreement with Juventus.
And he has taken a giant step towards being appointed with Derby resigned to losing Lampard after just one season.
But former skipper Dennis Wise believes his former club are taking a big risk.
“I’m surprised, if I’m being honest," Wise told talkSPORT.
“He did a good job getting Derby into the play-offs. But getting to the play-off final and not going up isn’t good enough. I think it would be good if he stays there.
“The expectation at Derby is to try and get them up. The expectation at Chelsea is to get into the Champions League and win trophies against the best. That’s a big jump.
“It’s a huge risk. But that’s what Frank’s about. He’ll take that risk. He’ll want to have a go at it. I don’t think it’s correct. I think he should be a bit patient.”
Chelsea will officially say goodbye to Maurizio Sarri this weekend after finally thrashing out a compensation deal with Juventus worth at least £5m, with add-ons taking it potentially closer to £10m.
And that will trigger an move for Lampard, who is set to take former Chelsea youth coach Jody Morris with him.
Chelsea are willing to make some of their young players available to Derby on loan next season as a sweetner to help pave the way to a deal.
Lampard, 40, will be expected to work closely with former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who is being lined up to return in a backroom role that has yet to be clearly defined.
But there are currently no plans to bring in fellow Blues old boy Claude Makelele despite him leaving his job as head coach of Belgian side Eupen yesterday.
Lampard spent 13 years as a player in west London, winning three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, the Europa League and the Champions League.
He is also Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer and still enjoys a good relationship with the fans, an important factor in a season when some Blues supporters turned viciously against Sarri.
Lampard is also someone owner Roman Abramovich has always trusted and his record of working with young players appeals with the club facing a two-window transfer ban.
Outgoing Juventus boss Max Allegri was a candidate but is taking a year out while Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo and Watford ’s Javi Gracia were also considered.
Meanwhile, Gonzalo Higuain looks set to follow Sarri to Juventus, with his loan spell at Chelsea unlikely to be made permanent.
Higuain’s agent brother Nicolas said: “He wants to end his career at Juve.”
