FRANKS FOR THE DEAL
Lampard gets 21 2 -year Everton contract but just hours to work on deadline transfers... with Van de Beek deal in the balance, while Blues also look at Dele Alli
FRANK LAMPARD has agreed a two-and-a-halfyear deal to manage Everton after what were described as swift and amicable negotiations.
And his first job will be to rubber-stamp at least two new Blues signings, with the club involved in talks to complete two potential loan deals and a possible signing.
Lampard met Everton chairman Bill Kenwright in London yesterday to thrash out the details of his contract, cutting a negotiation that would usually take a week down to 24 hours.
That was because owner Farhad Moshiri wanted him in place today to take training when the players return from a mini-break and to have the final say on the players he wants as he looks to steer his new team away from relegation trouble.
The length of the contract is something of a surprise, given that it is shorter than the usual for a big-name manager. But there is realism on both sides and an understanding that if
Lampard does well he will renegotiate a new deal.
The former England player has indicated to Monacobased billionaire Moshiri that he wants to bring the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain assistant manager Paul Clement into Goodison Park as his No.2.
But Lampard has now spoken to current assistant manager Duncan Ferguson and asked him to stay.
Ferguson was strongly in the running to be the next manager and ran Lampard extremely close in the final round of interviews.
Ferguson had his supporters on the board during the process, but eventually lost out as Moshiri agonised over his decision on
Friday night and eventually decided on Saturday afternoon. It is thought that Ferguson will remain in the club, but in what role is yet to be determined.
The priority for the Blues before tonight’s deadline is a midfielder and it is understood they have already reached an agreement in principle to bring Donny van de Beek in on loan from Manchester United.
But they have been forced to spin several plates because they have already secured one domestic loan in this window, Aston Villa forward Anwar El Ghazi, until the end of the season.
That means they are only allowed one more domestic loan deal and there is also interest in Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli. Everton cannot sign both on loan and, while they have limited funds available to make a signing in the window, they are unlikely to be able to agree a fee for either before the window closes.
But they can make another loan signing from overseas, with a scenario unfolding which would see them turn to their former midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye.
Contact has been made over the Senegal star but that again is complicated, because he is at the Africa Cup of Nations and was playing for his country in a quarter-final last night.
Lampard may be asked to decide between Van de Beek and Alli and if Everton can agree a loan deal for Alli, they would pursue Gana Gueye as a defensive midfield option. He is also thought to want to bring in a defender.
The former Chelsea manager travelled to Merseyside last night to prepare to welcome back the players, as he looks to hit the ground running.