But the former midfielder is excited about working with two of his young charges in particular —- Kurt Zouma and Mason Mount.

Following Chelsea’s 1-0 pre-season friendly loss to Japanese champions Kawasaki Frontale in Yokohama on Friday, Lampard praised Zouma, 24, and Mount, 20.

French defender Zouma spent last season on loan at Everton, where he impressed so much that the Merseyside club’s manager Marco Silva wants him back.

The Chelsea manager, however, wants to keep his man at Stamford Bridge.

“He is a very good defender for us. A very good person, professional and I want him here. Simple as that,” said Lampard.

“We are competitive with the centre-backs we have in the team and he had a very good season at Everton.

“I understand why they want him —– but he is a Chelsea player. I want him and I want him to be happy.”

Zouma played alongside David Luiz at centre back during the first half against Kawasaki and the Brazilian wants to make that a permanent partnership this season.

“He is a great player and a great friend of mine so it was amazing to be with him again,” said Luiz.

“I hope he can stay because he will help us a lot.”

Another player to return to Chelsea this campaign is midfielder Mount, who played under Lampard on loan at Derby County last season.

He signed a five-year contract earlier this month and Lampard is happy to throw the Chelsea academy product into the first team immediately.

“It is time for him,” said Lampard.

“His qualities will improve, even more with the quality around him and everybody knows the hopes I have for Mason.

“He showed today (Friday) just a start, a little glimmer in early pre-season of what we might see this year and going forward.”

Chelsea have enjoyed success at academy level, winning seven FA Youth Cups between 2009 and 2018, but few of those players have gone on to play regularly for their first team.

Yet with the club under a FIFA transfer ban for the next two windows, Lampard may have to rely more heavily on youth.

Team captain Cesar Azpilicueta believes Lampard is the best man to bring through young talent.

“We are very lucky; we have the best academy in England,” said the defender.

“We know we have the manager and his staff who have worked with a lot of young players during the last seasons and in a very successful way.”

Chelsea were second best against Kawasaki.

The raucous home crowd got what they wanted when Brazilian striker Leandro Damiao took advantage of some sloppy Chelsea defending to head home the winner four minutes from full-time.

Chelsea are in action again on Tuesday, when they play FC Barcelona in Saitama, just north of Tokyo.

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He is their most decorated individual, with four Premier League titles, one Champions League, five FA Cups, a Europa League and three League Cups.

It was reported that he has made 713 Chelsea appearances since his 1998 debut — 578 as captain.

“I feel I still have plenty to offer on the pitch but understand that opportunities here at Chelsea will be limited for me,” the 36-year-old Terry said.

Centre-back Terry, who has scored 66 goals for the club he joined as a 14-year-old, has made just four Premier League starts this season.

He is the club’s third highest all-time appearance maker, behind Ron Harris and Peter Bonetti, and holds the club record for appearances as captain.

Terry, who made his debut for Chelsea as a 17-year-old in a 1998 League Cup match, has gone on to score 40 Premier League goals over 19 years.

He has played almost all of his career at Chelsea, other than six loan appearances for Nottingham Forest in 2000.

“I will, of course, always be a Blue and am desperate to end my final season as a Chelsea player with more silverware,” said Terry, whose team have a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

“I’ve always been conscious that I depart at the right time, in the right way, and I feel that the end of this season is the right time for the club and I.”

Terry, the club and Premier League’s top-scoring defender, is one of just five defenders to have won the PFA Player of the Year award.

He retired from international football in 2012 after winning 78 England caps and signed a one-year contract extension with the Blues in May 2016.

“I’m eager to carry on playing and so will be looking to continue with a new challenge,” Terry added.

“Words cannot describe the love I have for our football club and our amazing Chelsea fans. You mean the world to me and I will never forget the incredible journey we’ve been on.”

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: “He will always be held in the highest regard by everybody at Stamford Bridge and we look forward to welcoming him back in the future.”

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