Frank Lampard 'lined up for surprise managerial return' with European giants

Frank Lampard, the former Chelsea boss, has emerged as a surprise contender for the Roma job, potentially following in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho. However, another ex-Chelsea head coach is also being considered.

The Blues' all-time top scorer is being eyed as a potential replacement for the struggling Ivan Juric, with Roma currently sitting in 11th place in Serie A after a 3-2 defeat to Hellas Verona. Yet, Graham Potter is another name that has caught the attention of the club's owners, The Friedkin Group.

La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests Paulo Sousa could be lured back to Italy if Juric is dismissed. Sousa, who had brief stints at Queens Park Rangers, Swansea and Leicester, is currently managing UAE Premier Division club Shabab Al Ahli.

He also has a release clause that the owners would need to pay. Both Lampard and Potter have been out of work since leaving Stamford Bridge following challenging periods.

They've both spent time as TV pundits, with Lampard appearing on Sky for Sunday's Manchester United vs Chelsea match. Potter has worked for Sky and recently appeared on the BBC, reports the Mirror.

Despite being linked with numerous positions over the past year and a half, he's still waiting for the right opportunity, having previously turned down the Ajax job among others.

Despite his eagerness to return to management, 46 year old Lampard has been overlooked by several major clubs following his unsuccessful attempt to turn Chelsea's fortunes around during a brief stint in charge in 2022-23. Meanwhile, The Friedkin Group is actively pursuing a takeover of Everton, with Dan Friedkin visiting the UK in late October to try and seal the deal.

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