Chelsea fans singing for Jose Mourinho should not expect a reunion, with sources on both sides playing down the chances of the three-time Premier League winner ever returning to Stamford Bridge.
The name of the out-of-work 61-year-old was chanted during Saturday’s disappointing 2-2 draw with Brentford while supporters also called for Mauricio Pochettino’s sacking at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Contacts close to Mourinho have refused to say whether he would or would not be willing to come back, though they believe there is no appetite from Chelsea to appoint him for a third term.
Insiders at the club have echoed that statement, one individual involved in the new project suggesting it would send the wrong message if they returned to the face of the old ownership.
Instead, Mail Sport reported in February how Chelsea have a long-standing interest in a different Portuguese manager – Ruben Amorim of Sporting Lisbon. Amorim is expected to have several other offers this summer, however, with Liverpool among those linked in their search for Jurgen Klopp's successor.
Chelsea insist they are still backing Pochettino, who faces a nervy end to his first campaign in charge. The hierarchy are naturally wary of what happened last season when they sacked Graham Potter in April and won only one of their remaining 10 Premier League games to finish 12th.
Pochettino is facing a planned summer review, with European football emerging as a crucial factor in whether he continues in his role.
Chelsea are currently 11th in the Premier League but in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, the winners of which will qualify for the Europa League. They will face Championship outfit Leicester at Stamford Bridge next in that competition.
As well as Amorim, Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi is also being linked with Chelsea – with plenty of the 44-year-old's former colleagues currently working at Stamford Bridge.