Frank Lampard says joining Chelsea will be a great move for ‘top lad’ Peter Crouch, but admits he and Andy Carroll are only short-term solutions to the Blues problems.

With Alvaro Morata struggling in recent weeks and Michy Batshuayi out of favour, Antonio Conte is keen sign a back-up striker in the January transfer window.

Andy Carroll was linked with the Blues before an ankle injury seemingly ended that move, but now the Premier League champions have reportedly set their sights on 36-year-old Stoke City targetman Crouch.

READ MORE: Chelsea make shock inquiry for Stoke City forward Peter Crouch

Asked about the rumours, Chelsea legend Lampard told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “I think both of those players would be a short-term or Plan-B sort of signing, I don’t think we’re looking at either of those players in the long-term.

“No disrespect to them, because they are very good at what they do, but I don’t think Chelsea are going to be going down that route.

“There is obviously an issue with scoring goals recently, so they’re in a position where they need to something, but I think January is not the time.

“Maybe they are just trying to get themselves through to the summer and they’ll look forward from there.”

On a personal level, though, Lampard says his former England team-mate is deserving of a move to another big club, having been a consistent performer for Stoke since his move from Tottenham in 2011.

He added: “It’ll be interesting to see whether Chelsea do get Crouchy – I love Crouchy, he’s a great lad and what a move for him that would be!

“He’s a had a brilliant career, he’s a good lad and I think good things come to lads who are proper lads and I think Crouchy is one of them.

“If that opportunity comes for him and he goes there for six months, fair play to Crouchy.”