Former West Ham and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp says his nephew Frank Lampard will eliminate player power at Chelsea if he takes charge of the club.
Player power has worked against a succession of Chelsea managers, but Redknapp, 72, believes Lampard’s legendary status at the club will give him the edge.
Lampard is edging closer to succeeding Maurizio Sarri in the Stamford Bridge hot-seat, with the Italian named as Juventus boss on Sunday after spending just a year in the English top flight.
“He will have real authority. He won’t stand any nonsense,” Redknapp told The Sun.
“Eden Hazard has left and he was a fantastic player. No disrespect to any of the rest of them who are left but none of them can look at Frank and think, ‘I’m a bigger, better player’.
“He’s been a better player for Chelsea than any of them have been. That’s not a bad starting point for him. There won’t be anyone there he can’t handle.”
He added: “It could be a fresh new Chelsea. We could see some real young stars emerging.
“When I think of Chelsea, I think back to the days of Alan Hudson, Peter Osgood, Peter Houseman — people coming through the system, great young players.
“Maybe now these kids are going to get the chance.
“They have an incredible academy, producing all these great kids but sending them out on loan and not playing in the first team.
“It could be dawning of a bright new era for Chelsea.”
Meanwhile , Lampard is reportedly interested in bringing former Blues striker Didier Drogba to the club as part of his backroom staff.
The Sun claim the ex-England midfielder is set to bring close ally Jody Morris in as his No.2, while he also wants Shay Given from Derby as his goalkeeper coach.
Drogba, the west London side’s fourth all-time greatest scorer, is in line to land a role as striker coach following talks with his old team-mate earlier this week.
However, there will be no room for John Terry, current No.2 at newly promoted Aston Villa, in the new set-up.
Chelsea agree deal for Maurizio Sarri to join Juventus