Frank Lampard to raid boyhood club West Ham to bring Reece Burke to Derby
Hammers starlet was set to join Hull on Monday but Lampard has made a late swoop
FRANK LAMPARD is raiding his boyhood club West Ham in a swoop for blossoming central defender Reece Burke.
Derby boss Lampard has come in at the eleveth hour to try to hijack Burke's £1.5million move to Championship rivals Hull City.
Burke, 21, was all set to join City on Monday after leaving West Ham's pre-season training camp in Switzerland to fly home for a medical.
But Derby have made an improved offer and West Ham fan Burke is also tempted by Lampard's Hammers connections.
Lampard graduated through West Ham's Academy before joining Chelsea and is now embarking on a managerial career having been appointed Derby boss in May.
Burke would be Lampard's biggest signing so far having taken on former Arsenal forward Aaron Eyoma on a free transfer after a trial.
Burke is reluctantly quitting West Ham after being told his appearances would be limited under new boss Manuel Pellegrini.
The East Londoner joined the club aged nine and made five Premier League appearances before being sent out on loan to Wigan, Bolton and Bradford.
The arrival of club-record signing Issa Diop for £24m has pushed him further down the pecking order.