Frank Lampard believes Steve Clarke should be allowed to join West Ham United Football Club.

Chelsea rejected their assistant manager’s resignation last week, but midfielder Lampard believes the club should allow him to move to Upton Park where he wants to link up with Gianfranco Zola.

"If he goes to West Ham it will be a loss, but I don't think you can ever take away a man's right to do what he wants to do," Lampard said in the Evening Standard.

"I think Clarkey has been an unbelievable servant for Chelsea for many years as a player and as a coach. He has been an important member of the backroom staff in what we've done.

"But if he feels he wants to go and do something different - I know he has intentions to be a manager in his own right - you can only wish him all the best."

The Blues are believed to be holding out for a compensation figure in the region of a whopping £4million, whilst the Hammers are only prepared to pay £500,000.