Chelsea are hoping to conclude negotiations to make Frank Lampard their new manager by the end of the week.

Lampard is the club’s first choice to succeed Maurizio Sarri and they want to have him in place as soon as possible.

Derby, who will demand £4m in compensation to release Lampard, continue to insist they have yet to be approached by the Blues.

But it is believed to be only a matter of time as Chelsea are prepared to give their former midfielder a three-year contract.

Lampard has been away on holiday in France, but as revealed by Standard Sport earlier in the week, he has already informed Derby of his desire to join Chelsea if the opportunity arises.

The Championship club have been drawing up a shortlist of possible replacements, although claim that they’re still working on giving Lampard an extension on his current terms. He has two years of his current agreement left to run and Derby say they are ignoring approaches from potential candidates over the job.

But Chelsea are sure Lampard wants to be their next coach and become part of a new set-up that will also include Petr Cech in a technical director role.

The west London club want to avoid a repeat of last year when Sarri took over from Antonio Conte after pre-season had already begun.

Those players not involved in international duty earlier this month are due to report back in a few weeks and Chelsea want Lampard to have plenty of time to prepare for the new campaign.

Sarri asked to leave Chelsea for Juventus after the club won the Europa League Final against Arsenal at the end of May and he is going to be officially unveiled by the Serie A champions at a press conference on Thursday.

The Italian came in for a lot of criticism from Chelsea fans during his one season in charge, but as well as lifting a trophy, also secured a third place finish in the Premier League.

In Pictures | Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea 33 show all In Pictures | Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea 1/33 Sarri signs his contract with director Marina Granovskaia. Chelsea FC via Getty Images 2/33 Sarri speaks in his first press conference. AFP/Getty Images 3/33 The Italian holds up the Chelsea home shirt. Action Images via Reuters 4/33 Sarri at Stamford Bridge. AFP/Getty Images 5/33 Alongside Cesc Fabregas and David Luiz. AFP/Getty Images 6/33 Sarri and Arsenal coach Unai Emery embrace. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 7/33 Sarri cut a nervous figure on the touchline. Getty Images 8/33 Respect between Sarri and former Blues coach Jose Mourinho. AFP/Getty Images 9/33 Sarri waves to the waiting Chelsea fans. Getty Images 10/33 Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp and Sarri share a joke. Liverpool FC via Getty Images 11/33 The tactician takes charge of training. Action Images via Reuters 12/33 Sarri and striker Gonzalo Higuain. Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien 13/33 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino and Sarri chat on the touchline. AFP/Getty Images 14/33 The press had come down hard on Sarri during his time at Chelsea. REUTERS 15/33 Sarri remonstrates with the fourth official. AFP/Getty Images 16/33 Maurizio Sarri has been cut by bookmakers to win the sack race EPA 17/33 Sarri with assistant Gianfranco Zola. AFP/Getty Images 18/33 Sarri gives instructions to Willian and Jorginho. REUTERS 19/33 The EFL Cup final chaos left a cloud hanging over Sarri's future. AFP/Getty Images 20/33 Sarri tries to instruct his players. AFP/Getty Images 21/33 High tension: Manager Maurizio Sarri cut an animated figure all night for Chelsea on Thursday Action Images via Reuters 22/33 Sarri often vented his frustration in the technical area. Getty Images 23/33 Sarri insists there is no need for wholesale changes at Stamford Bridge. EPA 24/33 Sarri arguably got the best out of Eden Hazard before his Real Madrid switch. PA 25/33 Sarri reflects on his Europa League triumph. REUTERS 26/33 Sarri is warned by referee Kevin Friend. Action Images via Reuters 27/33 Sarri in training with Hazard. AFP/Getty Images 28/33 Sarri waiting for the Europa League final. Getty Images 29/33 A nervous Sarri waits on the touchline. REUTERS/Phil Noble 30/33 Sarri and Emery shared a mutual respect for one another. REUTERS 31/33 Sarri's first trophy as a manager. Getty Images 32/33 Sarri lifts the Europa League trophy. Getty Images 33/33 Celebrating with his Chelsea players. Getty Images 1/33 Sarri signs his contract with director Marina Granovskaia. Chelsea FC via Getty Images 2/33 Sarri speaks in his first press conference. AFP/Getty Images 3/33 The Italian holds up the Chelsea home shirt. Action Images via Reuters 4/33 Sarri at Stamford Bridge. AFP/Getty Images 5/33 Alongside Cesc Fabregas and David Luiz. AFP/Getty Images 6/33 Sarri and Arsenal coach Unai Emery embrace. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 7/33 Sarri cut a nervous figure on the touchline. Getty Images 8/33 Respect between Sarri and former Blues coach Jose Mourinho. AFP/Getty Images 9/33 Sarri waves to the waiting Chelsea fans. Getty Images 10/33 Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp and Sarri share a joke. Liverpool FC via Getty Images 11/33 The tactician takes charge of training. Action Images via Reuters 12/33 Sarri and striker Gonzalo Higuain. Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien 13/33 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino and Sarri chat on the touchline. AFP/Getty Images 14/33 The press had come down hard on Sarri during his time at Chelsea. REUTERS 15/33 Sarri remonstrates with the fourth official. AFP/Getty Images 16/33 Maurizio Sarri has been cut by bookmakers to win the sack race EPA 17/33 Sarri with assistant Gianfranco Zola. AFP/Getty Images 18/33 Sarri gives instructions to Willian and Jorginho. REUTERS 19/33 The EFL Cup final chaos left a cloud hanging over Sarri's future. AFP/Getty Images 20/33 Sarri tries to instruct his players. AFP/Getty Images 21/33 High tension: Manager Maurizio Sarri cut an animated figure all night for Chelsea on Thursday Action Images via Reuters 22/33 Sarri often vented his frustration in the technical area. Getty Images 23/33 Sarri insists there is no need for wholesale changes at Stamford Bridge. EPA 24/33 Sarri arguably got the best out of Eden Hazard before his Real Madrid switch. PA 25/33 Sarri reflects on his Europa League triumph. REUTERS 26/33 Sarri is warned by referee Kevin Friend. Action Images via Reuters 27/33 Sarri in training with Hazard. AFP/Getty Images 28/33 Sarri waiting for the Europa League final. Getty Images 29/33 A nervous Sarri waits on the touchline. REUTERS/Phil Noble 30/33 Sarri and Emery shared a mutual respect for one another. REUTERS 31/33 Sarri's first trophy as a manager. Getty Images 32/33 Sarri lifts the Europa League trophy. Getty Images 33/33 Celebrating with his Chelsea players. Getty Images

Left-back Emerson admits he is sad to see the 60-year-old depart so soon, saying: “It’s difficult because we had a really good season. Also because it was his first season in England, in the Premier League, it’s hard.

“I believe it was a very tiresome season for him. But we finished third in the Premier League, we won the Europa League, we reached the League Cup final.

“I think he did a good job, but maybe it was like he said, that he wanted to return to Italy to be closer to his family.

“So looking at Chelsea’s situation, maybe it would’ve been better for him to stay with us after such a good first season, since the second season could have been even better.

“But then there’s his personal situation of wanting to move back to Italy and also joining a big club such as Juventus.”

The Italy international is one of the Chelsea players Sarri is hoping to take with him to Turin.

With the transfer ban currently still in place, Chelsea aren’t willing to sell any of their other first team players having already lost Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.

Emerson, who has started only 29 games for Chelsea since joining from Roma in January 2018, isn’t looking to quit the capital just yet.

He added: “I’m happy at Chelsea, we won the Europa League and I am calm. I didn’t receive any call, I am happy here. There is nothing to say, I am focused on Chelsea.”