These stories are samples pulled from external media sources. They do not represent the views or position of Chelsea Football Club.

Derby boss believes Lampard is close to Chelsea return

Speaking to TalkSport, Derby County owner Mel Morris has explained Frank Lampard’s negotiations to become the new manager of Chelsea were delayed while he was on holiday but he expects a deal to be completed very soon.

The Blues legend has been heavily tipped to succeed Maurizio Sarri after leading Derby to the Championship play-offs last season and Morris feels it is now just a matter of time before his return to Stamford Bridge is announced.

‘Obviously it’s a matter between Chelsea and Frank at this stage, but they’ve now got the opportunity to finalise matters,’ said Morris after it was revealed on Monday that Lampard had been excused from the start of Derby’s pre-season preparations to give him time to talk with the Blues.

‘As we’ve said before, when Frank and I first met we discussed this very eventuality, the only difference is the timing of this.

‘My belief at this point in time is that Frank and Chelsea need to have the time to finalise the transaction between them.

‘You could say they’ve had plenty of time, but in fairness Frank was away on vacation – and a well-deserved one after a pretty tough season – and he didn’t come back until Friday, so I think that has been a big factor.’

Morris said Derby have also started the process of finding a successor to Lampard with former PSV Eindhoven coach Phillip Cocu among those linked with the job.

‘We have [started looking for a new boss], and we will now accelerate those efforts,’ added Morris who hopes to have a new manager in place before his team leaves for a pre-season trip next week.

‘Obviously there’s a lot of activity expected to go on during the course of this week. We’re still very keen to get something sorted out in terms of the forthcoming tour to Florida.’

Steps to be taken to encourage youth Integration

According to the Telegraph, Chelsea’s youngsters will be given a greater opportunity to integrate with the senior players at the club’s training ground at Cobham if Frank Lampard takes charge of the club.

The report suggests Academy players will be able to have meals with the senior team and use their gym with the onus on encouraging the club’s impressive young players to be given a proper chance to make it to the Premier League side.

‘Telegraph Sport understands that one of Lampard’s first moves will be to allow the Academy players to mix with the senior professionals at the Cobham training complex,’ states the report.

‘Lampard will also instruct the youth coaches to vary training times, so that he can watch either after or before working with the first team.

‘Lampard’s plan is, along with his assistants Jody Morris and Joe Edwards, to watch as many youth games as possible and invite Academy players to train with the first team on a regular basis.’

Pulisic praised after US win

The United States may not have impressed in their 1-0 victory over Curacao in the Gold Cup quarter-finals but Christian Pulisic was praised for his performance by US head coach Gregg Berhlater, Goal.com reports.

The Chelsea winger captained the Americans for the game in Philadelphia and was an influential figure as he provided a constant threat and delivered the cross from which Weston McKennie scored the only goal in the first half.

‘He’s a guy that can lead through performance,’ said Berhalter. ‘I talked to him about being captain in this game, and it was something that he readily accepted.

‘You see his work. He’s a guy that — despite getting fatigued in the game — he didn’t stop working, and then he has the quality to give a great pass to Weston, an in-swinging cross. He was in on a number of other chances, shots from the top of the 18, had that other chance in the beginning of the game that was really close to going in, And his defensive work was excellent.

‘Really happy with his performance, and that’s why he was captain, to be able to put in performances like that.’

The 20-year-old was also delighted to put in a good display in front of his family in his home state of Pennsylvania.

‘I just really wanted to show the team that I was there, and I wanted to lead the team right from the start,’ Pulisic said.

‘I wanted the team to kind of gain some energy off that, being a great start. I just wish we could have put away a few more of those chances in the beginning, myself as well, but in the end we got the win.’