'Allardyce' orders West Ham bid for Chelsea star Lampard

West Ham vice chairman Karren Brady received a message from the club's manager Sam Allardyce requesting that the Hammers pursue Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard. Although that was at least how it seemed.

According to The Mirror, the Hammers boss mistakenly left his phone behind at a London restaurant, only to be given quite a surprise when he returned to pick it up again.

A member of the public quickly spotted the error of Allardyce and kept hold of the phone until his return, but not without indulging in some hijinks after going through his contact list.

The joker reportedly sent a message to Brady asking her to make a move for Lampard, who is out of contract with Chelsea at the end of the season, and Allardyce was soon made aware of the gag.

Lampard left West Ham for Chelsea for a fee of £12 million in 2001, having scored 39 goals in 186 appearances during his time at Upton Park.

The 34-year-old veteran has since established himself as one of the all-time Chelsea greats, but could leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season to see out his career elsewhere.