28 January 2023 , 09:03
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Jose Mourinho is eyeing a shock return to Chelsea amid frustrations over a lack of financial backing at Roma.
The 60-year-old has been in Italy since May 2021 and won the Europa Conference League during his first season in charge, but has recently grown disappointed at how much money he has at his disposal. Roma spent just shy of £7million last summer, having brought in five players on free transfers, including Paulo Dybala and Nemanja Matic.
And now, according to the Daily Mail, Mourinho is keen on moving back to England and his preferred destination would be Chelsea for the third time, after winning three Premier League titles across his two previous spells at the Blues. The Portuguese's representatives have let it known that he would be interested in any vacancy at Stamford Bridge, although it is understood the club are willing to stick by Graham Potter.
This is despite a rocky start for the ex-Brighton boss at the Blues, with Chelsea currently sitting 10th in the Premier League table, having picked up just eight wins from their 20 matches. Potter has come under criticism of late for Chelsea's mixed run of form, but injuries certainly haven't helped him.
Reece James, Ben Chilwell, N'Golo Kante, Wesley Fofana and Raheem Sterling are amongst the big-name players to have missed games recently through injury. But Todd Boehly has backed him in the transfer market following the high-profile arrivals of Benoit Badiashile, Joao Felix and Mykhaylo Mudryk, which will inevitably put Potter under more pressure if results do not follow.
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Even if the Chelsea job doesn't become available, Mourinho is keen to move back to England in the near future. Mourinho's wife and children still live in London and he has always preferred working in the Premier League to elsewhere.
Jose Mourinho has managed Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham in England (Getty Images)Should Jose Mourinho decide to leave Roma? Let us know in the comments below!
West Ham could be in search of a new manager should David Moyes be sacked, with the Scotsman under scrutiny after the Hammers' dismal start to the campaign. However, their 2-0 win over Everton on January 21 will have eased some pressure on the 59-year-old, especially given he guided the club to the Europa League semi-final last term.
Mourinho may have to wait until the summer to leave Roma, however, as he is insistent to stay in his current role until then as he tries to guide the club back into the Champions League. Roma are level on points with fourth-place Inter Milan in the Serie A table and could easily sneak into those places with the second-half of the season to go.
The former Manchester United boss has also been linked with a switch to international management and Portugal after Fernando Santos stepped down from his position. However, Roberto Martinez was the leading candidate for that role, despite failing to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup with Belgium.