Five things Lampard must do when he becomes Chelsea’s new manager after Hazard’s transfer and Sarri’s exit

CHELSEA look set to appoint Frank Lampard as their new manager, after agreeing to release Maurzio Sarri from his contract after agreeing compensation with Juventus.

The Blues have agreed a £7m divorce settlement with the Serie A champions that paves the way for club legend Lampard to take over.

But with just one season at Derby under his belt, Lampard is a rookie boss.

And he faces a massive task at Europa League winners Chelsea, who have sold their one superstar Eden Hazard for £150m to Real Madrid, and are banned from signing any new players until next summer.

But here are five things he could can do that should help turn the mood around.

1.Convince Hudson-Odoi to stay

Chelsea’s teenage winger Callum Hudson-Odoi is probably the best young player to come through the club since John Terry two decades ago.

He is currently out injured, after tearing his Achilles towards the end of last season.

But only a few months ago he handed in a transfer request to try to trigger a move to Bayern Munich.

There’s a lucrative contract offer on the table from Chelsea but the England star wants assurances over game time.

Lampard however can end the Mexican stand-off by reassuring Hudson-Odoi that he will get more starts next season that he did last year under Sarri.

The news that the teenager has signed a new long-term deal would stop the rot and give fans some positive news.

2. Show everyone who is boss

Lampard’s impressive first season at Derby showed signs of great potential but is it enough?

Club sources say they realise he has a tough job, and so will cut him some slack.

But Lampard, 40, won’t want – or expect – any charity from owner Roman Abramovich.

The best way he can destroy this perception that he is a trainee manager, learning the ropes on the job, is to hit the ground running.

Chelsea have a tough start to the season, away at Manchester United.

But if the Blues can get a result at Old Trafford it would start his reign off with a bang – like Jose Mourinho did when he beat United in his first game in charge in 2004.

3. Give loanees a proper chance

Hudson-Odoi is only one of Chelsea’s outstanding crop of young players itching for a chance to play for the first team.

Many of them, like Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Reece James and Fikayo Tomori, enjoyed successful loan seasons last year, albeit in the Championship.

Others, like Kurt Zouma and Michy Batshuayi, have more experience at the top but Sarri did not believe in them.

One way Lampard can help reconnect with the Blues’ fanbase will be to give the club’s loan players – particularly the young boy wonders – their chance.

The transfer ban will force Chelsea to live within their means.

And no one knows the young starlets at Chelsea better than Lampard’s assistant Jody Morris who was academy boss for five years.

4. Play Kante in his best position

This one’s a no-brainer.

Sarri’s one-eyed insistence on playing Jorginho at the heart of his midfield forced N’Golo Kante to adopt an unfamiliar, more attacking role.

Kante was still good, but some of his amazing ability to snuff out danger was lost.

Anyone with any sense will return Kante to his natural role.

In one stroke you make Chelsea much harder to beat.

And also better going forward, as the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ross Barkley and Mount will have the freedom to attack.

5. Kill off Sarri-ball

It sounded great in theory but in reality Sarri-ball meant far too much sideways football.

Chelsea fans grew frustrated watching the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho pass to each other with no end product.

Sarri’s legacy should be the way he ended Chelsea’s culture of counter-attacking and replaced it with a more attractive style of play.

The foundation has been set for Lampard.

Ditch the ponderous elements of Sarri-ball and replace them with urgency and purpose, and Chelsea fans at least would be won over.