Chelsea Transfer News: Ferguson Hints at Mourinho Stamford Bridge Return, But Will Real Madrid Boss Snub Blues for PSG?

Apr 08, 2013 04:00 AM EDT

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hinted at the possible return of Jose Mourinho to Chelsea next season, while a contrasting report suggested the Portuguese might opt to move to Paris Saint Germain instead.

Mourinho is widely expected to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, with the Portuguese heavily tipped with a return to Stamford Bridge, the club where he enjoyed so much success from 2004-07.

Ferguson, while talking about United's title challenge for next season, said there was a possibility of Mourinho taking over at Chelsea in the summer.

"Whether we can go on another run of three titles in a row, who's to say? The material's there, but it's a hard league," Ferguson said of the title race for next season, having already pretty much sealed the crown this year.

"If Jose goes back to Chelsea, as they're talking about, you'd expect a big challenge from there.

"City have enough money to go and buy another £200 million ($300 million) worth of players. They're not going to go away, are they, with the money they've got?

"I think Arsenal will improve -- there's some indication that they are building a better squad than people think, and Tottenham have been progressing for a couple of years now.

"So it's a hard league to win, no doubt about that. But at this moment we just need to concentrate on winning the league this year."

Now, Ferguson was just talking about the title race, and the comments about Mourinho could mean nothing. But then, the United manager does have a close friendship with Mourinho, and could be privy to some private news from the Portuguese.

A close friend of Mourinho was also quoted as saying that the Real Madrid manager wants a move to Chelsea in the summer. "Jose wants to go back to Chelsea," the friend told The Sun. "It's where he wants to be.

"Every time Chelsea fans sing his name it makes him want to go back even more.

"He'll sign for the same money he's on at Real, even though he's sure he could earn more elsewhere -- like (Manchester) City or PSG.

"Jose could even remain at Madrid but he is clear about where he'd like to go -- it's now down to if Roman Abramovich wants the same."

However, a report in the Sunday People suggests Mourinho will snub a move to Chelsea in favor of French side PSG, as he waits for the seat at Old Trafford to be vacated.

Mourinho has been linked with a move to United, once Ferguson retires, and the report says the Portuguese is now willing to wait it out with PSG and further enhance his CV, before eventually looking to take over at Old Trafford.

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