England and Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has been tipped for a surprise Premier League job by former Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling.
Lampard has been out of work since his tenure as Chelsea interim manager came to an end following the 2022-23 season.
The Stamford Bridge hero returned to his former club following Graham Potter’s sacking but his arrival failed to produce an upturn in form, with Chelsea finishing in the bottom-half of the Premier League for the first time since 1996 after Lampard won just one of his 11 matches in charge.
Lampard’s first spell as Chelsea boss was also disappointing, with the former midfielder failing to build on a promising start and getting the chop in January 2021.
His only Premier League managerial stint away from Stamford Bridge came at Everton but Lampard struggled at Goodison Park and had a win percentage of just 27 when he was axed at the start of 2023.
Despite Lampard’s underwhelming managerial record, sports broadcaster Stelling has raised the possibility of the 46-year-old taking over West Ham should Julen Lopetegui get the sack.
Lampard made 187 appearances for West Ham after coming through the club’s academy before going on to establish himself as one of the best midfielders in history at Chelsea and lifting a host of trophies, including three Premier League titles and the Champions League.
West Ham have made a poor start to the season under David Moyes’ replacement Lopetegui and sit 14th in the Premier League ahead of a crucial clash with Everton this weekend.
The Hammers were well-beaten by Nottingham Forest on Saturday and the club’s owners have reportedly warned Lopetegui he will be sacked unless performances and results improve.
‘I’m going to mention someone who might divide opinions,’ Stelling said on talkSPORT when he was asked about West Ham’s struggles and potential replacements for Lopetegui.
‘Is it time, if Lopetegui goes, for West Ham to bring Frank Lampard home? Just a thought.
‘He is available. He’s been mentioned in connection with the Roma job, but West Ham would be ideal for him.
‘I know there’s a man in situ at the moment, but it is just a speculative suggestion at the moment.’
Lampard has been tentatively linked with the Roma job in recent days but could face competition from another ex-Chelsea manager in Graham Potter.
Potter emerged as a possible target for both England and Manchester United before they appointed Thomas Tuchel and Ruben Amorim respectively.
Meanwhile, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says he ‘does not know what West Ham are’ under Lopetegui, who arrived in east London over the summer following Moyes’ exit.
‘West Ham this season are stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea, you don’t know what they are and that’s the issue,’ Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
‘It looks like he’s a little bit stuck. He’s in the wrong movie. He needs time, but you don’t really know what they are and he’s spent a fortune.’
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