Former Derby boss Lampard signed a three-year deal in the summer of 2019 and, in spite of a transfer ban, led Chelsea to the FA Cup final and a fourth-place finish in his first managerial campaign at Stamford Bridge.

With cash to spend ahead of this season, the arrivals of the likes of Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz and Timo Werner have failed to translate into improved results and they are ninth in the Premier League at the halfway point, 11 points off leaders Manchester United.

Redknapp told talkSPORT: ‘They’ve been on a bad little run, but so has everybody. This is a different time for football, it is almost a different game with no fans.

‘Jurgen Klopp’s going through a bad spell. Does that suddenly make him a bad manager? He will come out of it again as we all know, but you need time. You will have your ups and downs.

‘Alex Ferguson survived by the skin of his teeth when the board looked like they would sack him after 18 months or two years at Old Trafford where he hadn’t won anything.

‘Suddenly he goes on to arguably be the greatest manager we’ve ever seen. You need time and unfortunately at Chelsea it seems a club where they don’t seem to give time.’

Redknapp questioned if the players brought in during the transfer window were wanted by Lampard and criticised the form of Werner and Havertz.

‘You are only as good as your players at the end of the day and the two Germans have been massive disappointments, massive,’ the 73-year-old said.

‘I am not even sure, especially the centre forward, if he is cut out for English football. He looks to me like the physical side is too much for him. I don’t know who has brought them in.

‘Suddenly it is, “We have spent £200 million, there you are, Frank, go get on with it”, and that is football management these days.’

Gary Neville insists his former England teammate will have known his job was at risk after major investment in the summer was followed by poor results.

Neville told Sky Sports News: ‘Frank has had a short amount of time with a new set of players. He was given a period under a transfer embargo, it shielded him, he did a great job in that period, but the minute they spent the money they did, it was always going to bring more expectation and we know what happens at Chelsea when expectation comes.

‘When you have one of the biggest budgets in the league and biggest spends, expectation comes with it and at Chelsea their approach to managers has been consistent and Frank knew that when he got the job.

‘Frank won’t want people to feel sorry for him, he’ll have an understanding that he went into a club that has always been like this with managers. The results and inconsistent form have cost him. As a club legend we maybe all thought he’d get a bit more time.’

Asked if Lampard took the job too early, he added: ‘I don’t believe it was too early, he had no choice. It’s OK everyone saying pick and choose, maybe he wasn’t right, there was no way you turn it down if you’re Frank Lampard. He’s a better manager today than he was 17 months ago, I hope he’s able to go and build a brilliant managerial career.

‘I sit here with no feeling of sorry for Frank, or that he’s done anything other than a good job. It’s Chelsea … Frank has been exposed to Chelsea releasing managers every 12 to 18 months if things don’t go as they want. I don’t have any great deal of worry for Frank’s career.’

Thiago Silva was another of the big-name players to arrive at Stamford Bridge in the summer, albeit on a free transfer following his departure from Paris St Germain.

The veteran Brazilian defender paid a glowing tribute to Lampard, tweeting: ‘I would like to thank you for everything you and your committee have done for me since the day I arrived. As I told you, it seemed like we had been working together for 10 years!! Thank you very much for everything legend.’

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes Lampard has learned the hard way that football is a results business.

He said: ‘For young and old managers – you have to win. When people talk about projects and ideas, they don’t exist. You have to win or you will be be sacked.

‘I respect the decision from Chelsea but a huge hug for Frank. Hopefully I can see him soon, when the lockdown is over I can go to a restaurant to see him.

‘It depends on results, not about the way you play, not about philosophy or projects. You have to get results. If you don’t, you will be replaced as manager.’

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Kane has firmly established himself as one of the top players in Europe this season with a stunning September that has seen him score 11 goals for club and country.

A perfect hat-trick against APOEL in the Champions League on Tuesday helped Spurs keep pace with Real Madrid in Group H, his treble coming on the back of braces against Everton, Borussia Dortmund and West Ham.

Former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood has suggested that Kane may leave Tottenham if they fail to win a trophy, but Redknapp disagrees.

‘I don’t see why he should leave, he’ll be captain eventually, he’s loved there,’ Redknapp, who managed the club between 2008 and 2012, told Sky Sports News.

‘He’s come from the youth team, at a great club, great training ground, with a great stadium when the new one is done.

‘I’d like to see him stay there long-term. He’s old school, and old school means you went to a football club as a kid and you never thought about leaving.

‘That was your club. It’s changed now, but Harry Kane is old school, so I think he’ll know when he’s well off and stay at Tottenham.’

-This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za

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Rooney has come in for a wave of criticism following a poor run of form for both club and country in recent months, with the star having recently been dropped from United’s starting lineup.

For his part, Redknapp is hopeful the star can return to his best while he has also suggested that moving clubs could reinvigorate the England captain.

‘He’s suffered with his form and I hope he revives himself at Old Trafford but if not a change of scenery could do him good,’ told The Daily Star.

Redknapp then likened Rooney’s case to that of former England wing Paul Merson, who was axed from Aston Villa following a decline in form, but eventually rediscovered the best of his ability after joining Portsmouth.

‘It was a different level to Wayne, of course, but Paul Merson transformed Portsmouth for me. He arrived back in 2002, the lads loved him and he was a good player given a fresh test of his character.

‘There are certain players who thrive off that and Wayne might just need a new challenge,’ he added. ‘He would be a great signing for a couple of seasons and could have a major impact on a Premier League club.’

Redknapp concluded by suggesting that Rooney’s potential impact could still be massive in the context of the Premier League.

‘He could tip the balance for a top-four team if United were to let him go. I’d take Wayne at Arsenal or Chelsea and he has to play as a No.9 or 10 – midfield isn’t for him yet,’ he concluded.

Rooney has made 10 appearances for United this season, scoring once and assisting a further four.

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The Reds managed an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League last season as new manager Jurgen Klopp took charge in the second-half of the campaign.

Now, having invested around £62-million in new players for the upcoming season, the German manager is confident of an improved showing.

The Reds did manage to reach two cup finals last term but ultimately ended the season trophyless as they were defeated by Manchester City in the League Cup and then succumbed to Sevilla in the final of the Europa League.

But with the Manchester clubs as well as the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal making signings of their own, Redknapp is not convinced Liverpool look well placed to compete.

‘I think Liverpool have almost dropped out of the top four,’ Redknapp told BetSafe.

‘It’s very difficult because there are six or seven teams next year and three of them are going to be very disappointed, big managers, big budgets and everything else that goes along with it and they’re suddenly going to have disappointing seasons.’

Liverpool’s biggest signing for the new season is Sadio Mane, who has arrived for an initial £30-million from Southampton.

The Reds have also added the likes of Georginio Wijnaldum, Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan and Loris Karius to their ranks.

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The Juventus midfielder has been the Red Devils’ top transfer target but Redknapp believes Spurs star Dele Alli would make for a better signing.

Pogba left United on a free transfer having been one of the club’s star youth players, before going to become a phenomenal midfielder since his departure.

‘If I was the owners of Manchester United, I’d be very aggrieved in that we actually let him go on a free transfer and we’ve now got to pay £100 million to get him back,’ Redknapp told Football365.

‘I don’t think I’d like that, I think my pride would stop me from paying a player 100 million when we gave him away.’

Redknapp then insisted Dele Alli would be his own priority signing.

‘He’s a great player, there’s no doubt about that, but I wouldn’t swap him for Dele Alli. If you asked me, Dele Alli or Pogba who do you want? I’m taking Dele Alli in the long term.’

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