Rams close in on Lampard

Frank Lampard has resumed talks with Derby County about becoming their new manager it is understood.

Negotiations are believed to be at an advanced stage, with contractual issues now being discussed.

Derby have been without a manager since Gary Rowett left to take over at Stoke last week, and Lampard has been an odds-on favourite with the bookmakers to fill the vacant position at Pride Park for much of that time.

The former West Ham and Chelsea midfielder, 39, is looking to take his first step into management after a glittering playing career and he confirmed over the weekend that he had been talking with the Rams.

“There’s been interest from Derby and I’ve been speaking with them,” Lampard said as a BT Sport pundit during Saturday night’s Champions League final coverage in Kiev.

He added: “I’m ambitious and I want to become a manager at some point.

“It’s a big club, with a big tradition and a big history, which I really like.

“We’ll carry on speaking when I go home, and we’ll see.”

Those talks have resumed and Derby hope to be in a position to make an announcement this week.