Ashley Cole is expected to be offered a return to Chelsea after the former England left-back announced his retirement.
On the day his former team-mate Frank Lampard made an emotional homecoming to Stamford Bridge, Cole confirmed the decision to hang up his boots following a glittering career that saw the defender win 13 major titles.
And the Blues are planning to discuss a potential return to the club for a player who, at one stage, was widely-recognised as the best left-back in the world.
Chelsea have made no secret of their ploy to see the players who altered the face of their history during the Roman Abramovich era return to in some capacity once their playing days are over.
Champions League winners Lampard and Petr Cech, who was appointed technical and performance adviser, both returned to Chelsea over the summer.
Chelsea have also kept the door open for legendary striker Didier Drogba to return to the club in the future, while Claude Makelele and Paulo Ferreira are also part of the coaching set-up.
Cole, who made 694 senior club appearances during a 21 year career, has already completed ambassadorial work for Chelsea during their pre-season tour of the Far East - a clear indication that the lines of communication between the club and their former player are open.
But Cole, who made 107 appearances for England, has made clear his intention to start a coaching career, saying: ‘After hard-thinking and consideration, it was time to hang my boots up and look forward to my next chapter, which will hopefully be coaching.
'I am doing the course at the moment and now I want to be great as a coach.’