Sun say Lampard is being lined up for Chelsea role

Chelsea want Frank Lampard to take a first-team coaching role at the club with a view to eventually becoming manager at Stamford Bridge, The Sun say.

The Blues’ record goalscorer is currently studying for his Uefa ‘A’ coaching licence and has been working with Chelsea Under-18s boss Jody Morris.

The Sun believe Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been impressed by reports about Lampard’s progress and wants him to return to the Bridge.

It is claimed that Chelsea are keen for Antonio Conte’s eventual replacement to include Lampard as part of their coaching staff.

The Sun also say Chelsea have shelved contract talks with Thibaut Courtois.

The story appears to be based on Belgian broadcaster RTBF claiming that Courtois’ father Thierry met with officials from Paris St-Germain for informal talks, which has been denied by the goalkeeper’s agent Christophe Henrotay.

Henrotay has been quoted as saying: “I have never heard of that meeting.

“If any club is interested they know what they have to do – find a deal with Chelsea and then talk to me to check my client interest.

“RTBF is a small TV channel in Belgium and sometimes they like a little thrill to keep them alive. But their information is not correct.”