Chelsea 'draw up four-man shortlist of Frank Lampard replacements'

Chelsea have reportedly identified four potential candidates to take over at Stamford Bridge if Frank Lampard is relieved of his duties in the near future.

Having been tipped as title contenders in the first half of the season, the Blues now find themselves down in ninth after losing four of their last six top-flight matches.

A 3-1 defeat at home to Manchester City has ramped up the pressure on the under-fire Lampard, with a recent report claiming that the capital outfit are already considering sacking the club legend.

Now, The Independent reports that Chelsea have drawn up a four-man shortlist of possible successors including Brendan Rodgers, Ralph Hasenhuttl, Thomas Tuchel and Massimiliano Allegri.

Allegri has been out of management since leaving Juventus last year, while Tuchel was recently sacked from Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain and replaced by Mauricio Pochettino.

Meanwhile, Rodgers has earned plenty of plaudits during his time in the Leicester City dugout, while Hasenhuttl witnessed his resurgent Southampton side beat Liverpool 1-0 on Monday evening.