There has been all sorts of rumours flying around in relation to Jose Mourinho and his potential return to Stamford Bridge, which has become a real talking point for fans and pundits alike as it’s odds-on with the bookmakers at this stage, but what exactly could be going on behind the scenes?
The Daily Mirror claims that the deal hinges on two demands, with one being a £12 million a year salary and he’s also demanding that Frank Lampard is kept on at the club…which would cost the club over £20 million a year and I don’t see Mourinho wanting to reduce the budget he has available for new players for the sake of keeping Lampard, but I do think he’d be keen on having Michael Essien around as the Ghanaian is a willing utility player.
Other news sources have also suggested that Mourinho wouldn’t be willing to take the job unless Rafael Benitez guides them into the Champions League places, whilst some argue that this is not the case and he could take the position regardless.
But all of the above is irrelevant if Rob Beasley’s piece in The Sun is anything to go by as he reports that the Real Madrid boss isn’t looking for a pay rise on his current deal at the Santiago Bernabeu, wants to come back to the club he has a strong bond with and wants to know that Roman Abramovich wants him back. This would suggest that no formal discussions have taken place, no demands have been made and the likes of Paris Saint Germain, AC Milan (he wouldn’t go there) and Manchester City fancy their chances at getting his signature.
For the moment his current employers would prefer that he gives his full attention to the task in hand and try to win the Champions League before he does anything else but if he has already arranged the terms of his departure from the Spanish capital then he may also be free, to an extent, to discuss terms with another club.
Beasley believes that time is of the essence and Abramovich must act fast or lose out, an exaggeration perhaps. I don’t believe anyone of Mourinho’s intelligence will commit to anything before he has explored every possible avenue.
I don’t think it would be the end of the world if it ends up being someone else that takes the job either. I can understand why fans would want Mourinho back after a poor season, especially the Romantics, but Chelsea are building something and shouldn’t give up at the first hurdle, so he’d have to work with the current style and develop young players.
