Jose Mourinho is set for a return to his beloved Chelsea, after a friend of the Real Madrid manager claimed the Portuguese was looking for houses near the Blues' Cobham Training ground.

Rafa Benitez is widely expected to leave at the end of the season when his contract expires, with the Spaniard not exactly a fan favorite at Stamford Bridge.

That cannot be said about Mourinho, though, with the Portuguese still very much revered by the Blues faithful.

Mourinho recently said his next job is likely to be in England, and has made it clear of his love for the English Premier League.

The 50-year-old is expected to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, with his relationship with some of the players at the Bernabeu far from healthy.

While Mourinho left Stamford Bridge under a cloud after his relationship with Roman Abramovich deteriorated, there have been signs of the two patching up over time.

A Premier League scout, who was in Portugal to have a look at some players, said he heard from one of Mourinho's "close friends" that the Portuguese was returning to Stamford Bridge.

"I was eating in a restaurant that Jose uses regularly, as he is a close friend of the owner," the unnamed scout told the Daily Star.

"He told a group of us that Jose, having sold his place in Eaton Square, is now looking at houses in Cobham, near the Chelsea training ground.

"He even said that they have organised schools for their children. Whether this is just fancy talk, I don't know.

"But Jose and his return to England has been the talk of the industry."

Nothing would make Chelsea fans happier than to see Mourinho back at the helm of affairs at Stamford Bridge, as the Blues look to get back into the reckoning for the Premier League title from next year.