Derby insist Chelsea have not made formal offer for Frank Lampard to replace Sarri with Abramovich set to meet boss for talks

DERBY owner Mel Morris has challenged Roman Abramovich to come clean over his pursuit of Frank Lampard.

Morris claimed that if the Chelsea owner is serious about taking club legend Lamps back to Stamford Bridge he needs to get a move on and start talks.

Maurizio Sarri’s long-predicted departure to Juventus means Abramovich is in the market for a new boss again this summer with Lampard the 1/14 odds-on favourite to replace the Italian at Chelsea.

The last thing Morris wants is for the issue to turn into a long, drawn out summer saga – especially if he is then forced to go hunting for a new boss himself, in the event of Lampard leaving.

Morris said: "If Chelsea want to hire Frank, then it is in their gift to make an offer in pursuit of that.

"There is no change in the situation at present, except for the fact that Chelsea no longer have a manager."

Morris is determined to avoid that fate for the Rams and desperately hopes the fickle Chelsea owner might have a sudden change of heart and turn his attention elsewhere.

However, if the London giants do decide to make the obvious choice then a £4million compensation package to Derby should do the trick.

In the meantime, Morris is charging on regardless with his plans to keep Lampard “for the long term,” by offering the 40-year-old a lucrative new deal, even though he has two years remaining on his current contract.

However, as SunSport revealed, Chelsea hope to hire Lampard by the end of the week and are stepping up in their pursuit.

They will accelerate plans to bring him to Stamford Bridge starting today, with the Blues' hierarchy hoping the club legend can bring back the feel-good factor after a miserable season under Sarri.

Despite two cup finals, a Europa League win and a third-place finish, Chelsea fans were often left frustrated with Sarri's style of play and demeanour.

That lethargy is also rumoured to have spread to the dressing room.

Chelsea are expected to give Lampard time to settle into the role, as long as he avoids a completely catastrophic start.

Morris believes Lampard has thrown away his ‘L’ plates to become one of Britain’s brightest young coaches.

Frank Lampard would surely be given more time than some of Chelsea's previous bosses"We have made it very clear to everyone, but most importantly to Frank himself, that we want to retain him at the club for the long term," Morris said.

"In the meantime, we will continue to put our best foot forward to continue with our plans for the coming season, to work with Frank and for him to know how much he is wanted by everyone associated with the club."

Lampard came within 90 minutes of returning Derby to the Premier League after more than a decade in the Championship in his first season as a boss.

But it’s precisely that talent which has prompted Chelsea’s interest in the former England midfielder.

Lampard won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, the Europa League and the Champions’ League during a glittering career.

He also remains the club’s greatest ever goalscorer, with 211 goals from 648 appearances.