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Derby County's players report for pre-season training tomorrow and manager Frank Lampard and his staff are also due to be at Moor Farm, as things stand.

Lampard, who has two years to run on his contract, is in talks with Chelsea about becoming their new manager.

Derby granted Chelsea permission to speak to the 41-year-old almost a week ago now and he is expected to return to his old club, but the situation continues to drag on.

The hold up is not about which of the backroom staff he would want to take with him to Chelsea should he be appointed, DerbyshireLive understands. Nor is it about Financial Fair Play (FFP) and waiting to complete a move on July 1, the start of a new financial year.

Lampard looks set to take his assistant, Jody Morris, back to the Stamford Bridge as well as first-team coach Chris Jones. If that happens, then Chelsea would pay compensation for Lampard as well as the other two.

It appears that the situation with Lampard can change at anytime.

Derby are confident the uncertainty will not have a major effect on the start of pre-season as the first couple of days back are about the fitness of the players and assessing what shape they are in as they return from their break rather than coaching or tactical work.

The club's fitness coaches and medical staff will be in to undertake the checks on players' fitness.