Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes Jose Mourinho' return to Chelsea would give a huge fillip to the English Premier League.

It now only looks like a matter of time before the Portuguese confirms his move to Chelsea, after Real Madrid announced the exit of the manager at the end of the season by mutual agreement on Monday.

Mourinho has repeatedly expressed his love for the English Premier League, and Neville believes it is this love that has expedited his move back to Stamford Bridge, where he spent three successful years from 2004-07.

"I think it is (important to the Premier League), he loves this country," Neville told talkSPORT.

"Every time you hear him speak, every time he plays an English team in Europe you sense that he desperately wants to come back. His heart has never left England.

"It's no secret his tenure at Real Madrid was coming to an end and that Chelsea are front runners for getting him back.

"That can only be positive for the Premier League, he's a great character, a great personality."

Neville, now a highly respected media pundit, said Mourinho would attract some of the biggest players in the world which would in turn be beneficial to the Premier League.

"He will attract the best players in the world and I think that, while we want to promote English players coming though, we also want the best players in the world to play here, and we want the best managers," he said.

"Jose Mourinho is one of the best and biggest characters in football, so it would be great for the Premier league if he was to come back."

Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku has admitted his future still remains up in the air for next season. The Belgian forward has an extremely impressive season-long loan spell at West Brom this season, which was capped off by a brilliant hat-trick on the final day against Manchester United, the last game for Sir Alex Ferguson.

With Chelsea's managerial seat yet to be confirmed - even if it is almost certainly going to be Mourinho - Lukaku has not received any assurances over his future.

"I have to see," Lukaku told BBC WM. "I have to talk with the new manager.

"Chelsea are still my dream club and I want to be successful there. If the new manager has plans for me, I will go there and take my chance.

"Chelsea was a bit difficult (when I first arrived) and a lot of people were doubting me but I kept believing in my qualities."