New Derby County boss Frank Lampard is set to raid his former club Chelsea and is targeting young defender Jay Dasilva, the Mirror reports.
Dasilva, a left wing-back, is an England Under-21 international and was one of the stars last weekend as England beat Mexico in the Toulon Tournament final to win the competition for the third time in succession.
Lampard and newly appointed assistant manager Jody Morris attended England’s semi-final match against Scotland to watch the youngster in action.
Chelsea’s 20-year-olds Jake Clarke Salter and Fikayo Tomori as well as 17-year-old midfielder Billy Gilmour, who played for Scotland, were also in action as Lampard watched on.
Dasilva spent last season on loan at League One outfit Charlton Athletic, where he picked up the club’s Player of the Year award.
Charlton are keen to secure his services for another season but it is reported that a host of Championship clubs and two Premier League clubs are also interested in the wing-back.
Dasilva signed a new four-year deal with Chelsea last July before sealing his loan move to Charlton in which he helped them reach the League One play-offs.
Lampard is keen to bring in the youngster who has already won three FA Youth Cups and two UEFA Champions Leagues.
Dasilva also captained the England side that won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship last summer.
Charlton manager Lee Bowyer has persistently praised the young defender and said that he is already better than former Chelsea legend Ashley Cole was at the same stage of their development.
I played against Ashley at a young age and I think Jay is very similar – but probably better than Ashley Cole was at his age.
Everyone knows how good Ashley was, probably England’s best offensive left-back for a long, long time. Jay is the same.
Everybody thinks because he’s small, he might struggle. But he’s unbelievable in the air.
He’s a baby but he uses his body so well. People think they can pick him out and get balls to the far post, but he uses his body so they don’t get a clear header against him when he can’t win it… and people don’t score.
