Derby County owner Mel Morris says Frank Lampard joining Chelsea is inevitable at some point, but still holds out hope that he will remain at the Championship club for another season.
On Monday the Rams gave Chelsea permission to speak to Lampard, the Blues' all-time top goalscorer, over a deal to replace Maurizio Sarri at Stamford Bridge.
Lampard made his first step into management with Derby last season, taking them to the Championship play-off final. Derby will be due £4million in compensation for their manager, a figure which could rise if he takes coaches Jody Morris, Chris Jones and Shay Given with him.
Morris revealed that in his first meeting with Lampard the pair had discussed what would happen when Chelsea came knocking, but that he has no regrets about letting it happen.
“Do I regret letting Frank talk to Chelsea? It is impossible in a situation like that, let’s face it when Frank met me for the first time we talked about this opportunity and even then you knew at some stage this was going to happen you just didn’t know when,” he told Talksport.
“We talked about it, thought it would be some way off and it is not a done deal – I am still hoping this guy is going to manage us next season but it will happen whether it is now or sometime in the future. For Frank Lampard it is win, win. He can’t lose in this situation.
“Sure you would love for that [Lampard to turn down Chelsea] to happen but the last thing you want is if someone has a desire to do that you don’t want them looking over their shoulder, you don’t want to be obstructive. I have a good relationship with Frank, and Chelsea and it is important we maintain that. I have no regrets over Frank.”
