Premier League - Paper Round: Mourinho 'a cert' for return to Chelsea

It is looking increasingly likely that Chelsea fans will get their
ideal scenario in the summer – with Rafael Benitez being replaced as
manager by Jose Mourinho.

Yahoo is reporting that Mourinho has effectively agreed to return to
the club where he won two league titles and firmly established himself
as 'The Special One.'
The stories in both papers are similar with Chelsea owner Roman
Abramovich, who was NOT detained by the FBI in the United States on
Monday, believed to have already told the Real Madrid boss that he
wants him back.
Mourinho has "provisionally agreed" to take the job and although the
Star says he "looks a cert" to take the job, he does still have some
conditions before inking the deal.
"He is not keen on taking charge at Stamford Bridge if the Blues do
not qualify for the Champions League," reports the Star, meaning
Chelsea fans will need Benitez to get the job done for the rest of the
season if they are to ultimately get their dream appointment.
The Star continues: "Mourinho is also believed to have a list of
demands that include getting rid of chief executive Ron Gourlay and
technical director Michael Emenalo.
"(And) he has a list of transfer targets, which he will want assurances over."
However, a number of factors have been identified that make the
Chelsea move look likely: Mourinho has recently purchased a house in
West London and his 16-year-old daughter has enrolled at Camberwell
Art College.
Porto youth team coach, Rui Sa Lemos, also said on Twitter that
Stamford Bridge would be Mourinho's home next year, adding: "I'm not
guessing, I'm giving news."
Manchester City are also said to be targeting Mourinho, but he is not
keen on that position as he still hold ambitions of one day joining
Manchester United and he believes taking the City job would rule him
out a potential replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Mirror says that "Mourinho and Abramovich HAVE reached a
provisional agreement for the Portuguese to take over from interim
Rafa Benitez this summer on a three-year contract", before listing the
same potential stumbling blocks as the Star, with an additional one
being there are also rumours Mourinho has agreed a deal with PSG as a
way to keep his options open if Abramovich does not bow down to all
his demands.
"Anzhi Makhachkala's Dutch veteran Guus Hiddink (has been) lined up as
a potential fall-back option if the Mourinho move goes wrong," they
report.
Mourinho was believed to be at Stamford Bridge on Monday as a guest of
the Brazilian FA for their friendly against Russia but kept an
uncharacteristically low profile.
"The 50-year-old has not agreed to go back to Stamford Bridge yet,
because he does not want to be disrespectful to Real Madrid, who he
hopes will win him a third Champions League following success with
Porto and Inter," reports the Star.
One of the bedrocks of Mourinho's great Chelsea teams was of course
John Terry but he could make a shock summer move to Turkish side
Fenerbahce according to the Daily Mail.
"The Turkish side are eager to compete with rivals Galatasaray for
big-name signings and have earmarked the 32-year-old as a potential
recruit," the paper says.
"Terry still has a year left on his contract and will wait until the
summer before making any decision on whether to leave Stamford
Bridge."
Meanwhile, Chelsea, along with Arsenal and Manchester City, are
keeping tabs on Birmingham City's 17-year-old striker Koby 'King'
Arthur, who only arrived in Britain from Ghana 12 months ago and is
close to being fast-tracked into the Blues' starting line-up.
Arthur has yet to sign a full professional deal with Birmingham, who
now "fear they could lose him for minimal compensation if he were to
decide against committing his future to St Andrews and move
elsewhere."
Some other titbits for the papers and Fulham, Stoke and Everton have
all joined the race for Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony, who we
reported on Monday's Paper Round was the number transfer target for
West Ham.
Manchester United continue to monitor Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic
after scouts watched him play for Bosnia against Greece on Friday.
(Daily Mail)
And finally, West Ham United hope to sit down with Sam Allardyce
within seven days to discuss a new contract - ending doubts over the
manager's future. (Daily Telegraph)