Frank Lampard insists big-spending Chelsea will not “jump too far ahead of ourselves”, pouring cold water on an immediate Premier League title challenge.

Chelsea have paid out more than £200million to recruit Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell and Malang Sarr.

The Blues are in talks to bring in Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as extra competition for Kepa Arrizabalaga, and have long eyed a deal for West Ham’s England international Declan Rice.

But despite that major summer investment on a Stamford Bridge overhaul, manager Lampard has moved to manage expectations ahead of the new season.

“The work started recently and unfortunately it’s been a broken pre-season for everyone, and we brought in new players across that pre-season, you have to work very hard very quickly, and we’ll do that.

“No matter what goes on at the club, there will always be pressures. I thrive off those pressures and I enjoy them. I understand the different nature of pressure coming this year. It is why I love doing it.

“I didn’t come into this job to fight for fourth place, although I know last year that it was an achievement and one of our goals that we set out to.

“I didn’t come in to just bring academy players into the first team and say I made debuts for this many players; I came here to win.

“This year the club has been able to make decisions to bring in players. It changes the landscape, yes, but I am excited by that as much as feeling the pressure. I am ready to go and work.”