Maurizio Sarri won the Europa League and finished third in the domestic league with English side Chelsea FC this year, but is still set to move on from Britain to go back to his home of Italy to coach Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo. According to Sky Sports, the Italian is set to position himself with a three-year deal to be the new boss of the Serie A champions.

There is a multitude of reasons Sarri is leaving the English side, among them the fact that the club is facing a two-window transfer ban after breaking rules of signing U18 foreign players. The club has appealed the allegation and is currently at a deadlock with the Court of Arbitration. Fans voiced their disconcert of Sarri’s tactics and his team selections, refusing to play younger players with bags of potential. Chelsea also lost undoubtedly their best player in Eden Hazard as he just signed for Real Madrid earlier this week. Back in February as well, players challenged his authority after goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to be subbed in a cup final after Sarri wanted a change in net. Chelsea would go on to lose that game in a penalty shootout against Manchester City.

With Sarri set to leave, who could Chelsea turn to? After it’s evident the side won’t be able to sign any players this summer and the January transfer window in 2020, Chelsea will surely have to rely heavily on their youth products. Former Chelsea midfielder, former assistant coach of the U18’s youth team and current Derby County manager Frank Lampard appears to be the perfect candidate. He led his Derby County to the Football League Championship playoff last season, where they lost to Aston Villa in the final, thus failing to be promoted to the Premier League.

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According to Sky Sports News, pundit Jamie Redknapp said, “Frank would be the perfect person. Sarri is still the manager right now so until that changes, if it were to change and if they need a manager next year, they need someone who’s going to come in and stabilize the club.”

Chelsea signed U.S. star Christian Pulisic back in January before the allegations, and could be Hazard’s long-term replacement at left-wing. With Pulisic likely being the only new player coming to the club in July, the next manager has a full plate of issues around the squad ahead of their next campaign in the domestic league and in the Champions League.

Former Chelsea striker Frank Lampard, who retired last month after 21 years, appeared as a commentator on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, and when asked who he believed were his top three midfield opponents during his time as a player, one name immediately rose to mind for Lampard: Steven Gerrard. 

Frank Lampard Calls Steven Gerrard Toughest Opponent In Premier League

The duo faced each other several times and played as teammates on England’s national team, for which Gerrard served as captain, for 14 years.

When asked about his top three midfielders on Sky on Monday, Lampard, 38, immediately said: “Steven Gerrard, in the Premier League. He had everything.

“If you got him on his day, you can almost forget about it because he was so powerful. Particularly when you used to go up to Anfield, you knew whether Stevie was on his game in the first three minutes because he’d crash through someone.

“But he had everything… other than the aggressive side, obviously he had top ability. He was a great midfield player.”

After citing the 36-year-old former Liverpool and LA Galaxy midfielder— who is now Liverpool’s Academy coach— as his number one, Lampard also named Barcelona’s Spanish stars Xavi and Andres Iniesta as the best two outside of England.

Lampard, who also played for West Ham, confessed: “Going to the Nou Camp and attempting to get near them for 90 minutes was very tough. They were absolute naturals on the ball.”

Gerrard retired in November 2016.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 24:  Frank Lampard of Manchester City runs with the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton at Etihad Stadium on May 24, 2015 in Manchester, England.  (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Frank Lampard, a former midfielder for Chelsea and England’s national team, announced on Thursday his retirement from a 21-year professional career.

Frank lampard retires after 21-year soccer career

The 38-year-old, who last played for New York City FC and left the Major League Soccer club at the end of last year, announced his decision in an Instagram post.

Lampard made 649 total appearances for Chelsea and won 106 England caps.

After rising through the youth ranks at childhood club West Ham United beginning in 1996, the midfielder moved to Chelsea in 2001 for £11 million ($13.8 million at today’s exchange rate). During his 13 years with the English club, he won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the 2011-2012 Champions League. Lampard captained Chelsea to a penalty shootout victory over Bayern Munich in 2012 in the absence of the suspended John Terry.

Only Ryan Giggs (632) and Gareth Barry (615) have made more Premier League appearances than Lampard (609).

When Lampard left Chelsea in the summer of 2014, he was the team’s record goalscorer with 211 goals in 649 games. His total of 177 Premier League goals is the fourth highest after Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney and Andy Cole. Lampard has also netted more goals from outside the penalty box than any other Premier League player (41).

Also, no England player has scored as many penalties as Lampard (nine) excluding shootouts.

He spent the 2014-15 season back in the Premier League at Manchester City — scoring against his former club in a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium — before moving to NYCFC.

“After 21 incredible years, I have decided that now is the right time to finish my career as a professional footballer,” Lampard wrote on Instagram. “I’m immensely proud of the trophies I’ve won, of representing my country over 100 times and of scoring more than 300 career goals.”

“Whilst I have received a number of exciting offers to continue playing at home and abroad, at 38 I feel now is the time to begin the next chapter in my life,” he said. “Looking forward, I’m grateful to the FA (Football Association) for the opportunity to study for my coaching qualifications and I look forward to pursuing the off-field opportunities that this decision opens.”

Lampard also thanked all four clubs he played for, including the coaches and managers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQAbRIggNPZ/?hl=en

Who knows what awaits Lampard next. Perhaps coaching is in the cards for him. Time will surely tell.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 24:  Frank Lampard of Manchester City runs with the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton at Etihad Stadium on May 24, 2015 in Manchester, England.  (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)