Lampard could be fired if Chelsea finishes third, says former player

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard could be fired if he doesn’t fight for the title, according to former Blues player Tony Cascarino.

They finished fourth in the Premier League during the most recent campaign, behind Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd.

That was Lampard’s first season in charge. The Englishman did well to revitalize the team after the transfer ban and the sale of Eden Hazard.

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However, Lampard has had the full backing of owner Roman Abramovich this summer and has signed numerous top players.

Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr have joined the club. Kai Havertz, Bayer Leverkusen’s wonder kid, is expected to sign in the next few days.

The huge wave of spending means that expectations will be much higher, according to Cascarino.

Speaking on TalkSport, he said: “Frank will be fully aware that getting that investment means there is a different challenge now.

“He will know that the expectation will not only be qualification for the Champions League. That was the expectation last summer, and if they did it with a transfer embargo, then it’s an advantage.

But that is not the challenge now. Now he’s guaranteed to be in the top four, but they are really giving him the funds to compete for the top two. “

Chelsea have been the biggest spenders in the Premier League this summer. Although Silva and Sarr signed for free, they spent more than £ 130 million on the other three players.

Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool have so far spent less than £ 20 million. Man City and Spurs are the only clubs that have invested nearly as much in their squads as the Blues.

Cascarino went on to say: “They lost in the FA Cup final to Arsenal, and Frank would have had a conversation with the powerful about how they can challenge Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Spurs and Arsenal.

“That brings more pressure and Frank will know it, but if he doesn’t meet his expectations and goals then he won’t be Chelsea’s manager next year.

“If they lose 17 games in one season, he will not be the Chelsea manager.”