Chelsea icon names club legend Frank Lampard and 2 other PL managers as potential replacements for Blues boss Enzo Maresca

Former Ivory Coast forward Salomon Kalou has backed Frank Lampard to become the Chelsea manager if the club parts ways with Enzo Maresca. He has named AFC Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola and Sunderland's Régis Le Bris as the next best options.

Speaking to The Sportzine, Kalou said that Maresca has done well at the club and should be given time to get things in place. However, he admitted that the managers at Stamford Bridge need to get results to stay in job and named his three best replacements:

“It’s important to say Enzo Maresca has done a lot of good work at Chelsea, and the club will want stability. But if results don’t improve, naturally speculation will grow. My former team-mate Frank Lampard is one name that stands out for me. He’s doing amazingly at Coventry right now, showing he’s learned from his previous experiences. He knows Chelsea inside out, he’s a club legend, and with more maturity and tactical growth, he could do well if given another chance."

“Andoni Iraola is another coach who has impressed in the Premier League with his intensity and pressing style. He’s shown he can adapt quickly and get the best out of his players. Then there’s Régis Le Bris. He built his reputation at Lorient by developing young talent and playing progressive football, and now at Sunderland, he’s showing he can translate those ideas into a different environment. That combination of nurturing players and tactical innovation makes him an intriguing option for a club like Chelsea.”

Manchester City have shown interest in Enzo Maresca as they look for Pep Guardiola's replacement and the Italian manager is among their top options.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca's comments put his future in the balance

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca sensationally claimed last week that he had the worst 48 hours at the club since joining because no one in the hierarchy was there to support him. He said (via BBC):

"The way the players want to learn has been fantastic and this is the reason why I praise them - because with so many problems, they are doing very well after a complicated week. Since I joined the club, the last 48 hours have been the worst because many people didn't support us."

The Blues have not shown any signs of sacking Enzo Maresca and the Italian manager has a contract until 2029, with the option to extend it by another season.