Why Frank Lampard stopped David Luiz from Chelsea’s first team training session.
The 32-year-old was one of the few senior Chelsea players to advocate Maurizio Sarri being granted another season at Stamford Bridge after the divisive Italian masterminded Champions League qualification and Europa League success.
Despite Sarri’s dismissal, Luiz had spoken positively about the impact Lampard had made since his return to the club in a managerial capacity, but relations between the pair have deteriorated rapidly, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Luiz trained away from the rest of Chelsea’s first team stars ahead of the Premier League opener against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Lampard expected to select Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen at the heart of his defence.
Emery has been desperate to reinforce his defence this summer and the need for a new centre-half was exacerbated by Laurent Koscielny’s move to Bordeaux on Tuesday.
Chelsea could demand as little as £8million for the two-time Premier League title winner, but a final decision on Luiz’s future and destination is likely to lie with director Marina Granovskaia.
The west London club are said to be shocked by Luiz’s conduct, especially in light of him signing a new two-year deal as recently as May.