Frank Lampard has seen talks between Chelsea and Derby County over his return to Stamford Bridge stall.

The Blues had hoped to make a swift appointment of their former midfielder as successor to Italian Maurizio Sarri when they were given permission by the Rams to talk to their manager on Tuesday.

But negotiations have taken longer than anticipated and the 41-year-old will now travel up to the East Midlands over the weekend to begin pre-season training with the Championship club on July 1, says The Sun.

Lampard still has one year left on his deal at Pride Park and though owner Mel Morris cleared him to hold talks with Chelsea, his contract still mandates he has to report back from his holiday on Monday.

He will be joined at work by assistant Jody Morris and coach Shay Given — who are both expected to be part of the team the Blues want to bring in.

Derby need to be happy with the full package of compensation they receive and discussions are ongoing about which coaches will be joining Lampard's backroom staff.