Frank Lampard insisted Kai Havertz and Timo Werner will come good for Chelsea and urged their doubters to give the pair time.

Both had been struggling for form in recent weeks but got on the scoresheet in the Blues’ 4-0 FA Cup third round win over Morecambe.

Werner had not scored for 12 games in all competitions and the goal is likely to give him a much needed confidence boost.

Chelsea also had not seen the best from Havertz with the playmaker taking a long time to recover from coronavirus earlier in the season.

Questions had started to be raised about the duo who were signed this summer and Blues boss Lampard was unequivocal in his belief of the impact they will make at the football club.

He told talkSPORT: “The people that question them should look at other top players that have come at a young age to this country.

“Eden Hazard being a great example. He came here and became one of our greatest players ever.

“It’s not an easy transition to this league. It’s a hard league and I think people that question them should give them time because they are great lads and we signed them for now and the future.

“I understand the questions as it’s the world we live in. They will prove to be big players for the club.”

Declan Rice has told pals he’d prefer to stay in London and has no interest in joining Manchester United.

United have been linked with Rice since the West Ham and England midfielder emerged into the first team with the Hammers as an 18-year-old.

Chelsea is believed to be Rice’s favoured destination if he leaves West Ham who value the defensive midfielder at a whopping £80 million.

Rice, who can also play at centre-back, is ambitious for Champions League football and trophies and although the Hammers are only three points off fourth place the club fear he could leave in the summer.

Talk of a bumper new wage boost has so far not materialised – but it’s unlikely he’ll move to Old Trafford.

Chelsea have been dealt a blow in their quest to prise AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma away from Italy.

The Blues have been linked with a move for the Italy international who is the last six months of his contract at the San Siro.

The Serie A club have opened talks with the goalkeeper over a new contract.

Frank Lampard’s side are keen to get rid of Kepa Arrizabalaga, while summer signing Edouard Mendy has looked suspect in recent weeks.

But AC Milan’s sporting director Frederic Massara has stated he is confident Donnarumma will extend his contract – along with Man Utd target Hakan Calhanoglu.

He told DAZN: “We’re confident to reach an agreement with Donnarumma and Calhanoglu in order to extend their contracts in the next weeks.”

There are no doubts at Atletico Madrid regarding the long-term future of Diego Simeone as the club’s boss, according to Marca.

Simeone put Premier League clubs on alert after hinting he could leave Atletico Madrid at the end of this season.

Los Rojiblancos were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by a third-tier team for the second successive season as they lost 1-0 to Cornella on Wednesday.

And manager Simeone hinted he might not be be at the club next season to improve his side’s poor record in the competition – despite Atletico being the current La Liga leaders.

“This competition has not given us satisfaction in recent years but solutions will have to be found if we are here next year,” said the 50-year-old, quoted by Goal.

Simeone’s contract at Atleti runs through to the summer of 2022 but there is said to be confidence and recognition on both sides that the agreement will be extended beyond that date.

Tiemoue Bakayoko snatched victory in the final minute for Napoli, as Udinese will rue wasted opportunities.

Lorenzo Insigne fired wide in the opening minute after the ball was given away cheaply in midfield, then Rodrigo De Paul fired over from the edge of the area.

VAR came to the rescue when Kevin Bonifazi clearly wiped out Hirving Lozano, a foul the referee and linesman somehow failed to spot in real time. Insigne converted with a hop, skip and jump to beat Juan Musso.

However, Napoli also lost Kostas Manolas to a muscular problem moments later. Rodrigo De Paul sent Pereyra clear, but the ex-Watford man couldn’t keep his finish down.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo whipped a great cross in from the right for Lozano’s diving header, but Juan Musso flew for an equally acrobatic save. On the resulting corner, Lozano again had a shot deflected, forcing Musso to fingertip over the bar.

However, Rrahmani showed how rusty he is in his first start for Napoli, as his weak back-pass for Alex Meret was intercepted by Kevin Lasagna, depositing into the empty net.

It was almost 2-1, as De Paul threaded through to release Lasagna, denied only by Meret sticking out a trailing boot.

Insigne’s volley from a corner was well smothered, and Napoli finally found the net in the last minute of normal time. A set play was floated into the six-yard box, where Tiemoue Bakayoko made the most of slack defending to turn a free header into the far top corner.

Bakayoko is, however, happy to have scored his first goal for Napoli, but claims the team must regain self-confidence.

“It’s a very important win for us, against a good team, we are going through a tough time, we had to give a signal,” Bakayoko told Sky Sport.

“I hope Napoli will continue to win, we must regain self-confidence, this win is so important for everyone, for us, for the coach and the club.

“I am so happy for my first goal in a Napoli shirt, especially because it allowed us to pick up all three points.”

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