Frank Lampard is open to talks over West Brom manager job
Frank Lampard is prepared to speak to West Brom about the impending managerial vacancy at The Hawthorns, according to Ian McGarry.
The respected journalist and football recruitment expert made the claim on ‘The Transfer Window Podcast’ [21/05/21] after current incumbent to the Albion post, Sam Allardyce, announced on Wednesday that he would be leaving at the end of the season.
“We understand he would not be averse to talking to West Brom’s executives,” McGarry said.
“He feels that perhaps after his time at Derby County he’d step backwards to go to the Midlands club and perhaps win promotion, and he would have the benefit of the parachute payments, a good squad already and also money to invest in new players as well.”
He added: “As unlikely as people might think it seems I don’t think it is impossible that should the circumstances be right he would accept that job.”
Sky Sports reported on Thursday that Lampard heads the club’s candidates alongside ex-Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder.
Life after Sam
We’d certainly be getting a big change from the Allardyce reign if we did appoint Lampard.
The ex-England international was sacked as Chelsea boss in January after a disappointing run of results but he did oversee the development of some promising young stars at the west London club.
Mason Mount, Reece James and Billy Gilmour are just a few of the budding talents that broke into the Blues side and impressed.
The hope would be that he could inspire something similar in the West Midlands.
A few young players have fallen by the wayside at West Brom this season, notably Grady Diangana and Karlan Grant, and they will need to be cajoled into getting their form back ahead of an assault on the Championship top spots in the 2021/21 campaign.
Lampard had a semi-successful season in the second tier with Derby that culminated in a 2-1 play-off final defeat to Aston Villa in May 2019, so he does have prior knowledge of the division.
He also worked with a raft of young stars there too, and that could curry him favour with the Baggies board as they plot their next move.
In other West Brom news, ‘Real backlash’ – Goldberg fears fan uproar if Albion appoint controversial figure as manager.
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