Chelsea have been urged to bring back Jose Mourinho for a third spell in charge by ex-player Joe Cole, who sees it as "the best move they can make".
The Blues are in the market for a new manager having axed Liam Rosenior after only a matter of months in the role. He is the latest man to be sacked or moved on by the Stamford Bridge hierarchy, who have seen the likes of Enzo Maresca, Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel depart.
It leaves them scouring the market for a new manager and Mourinho is a man tipped to be on the move come the summer. He's presided over an unbeaten season for Benfica and has huge pedigree in west London, winning three Premier League titles.
He remains the club's most successful manager and Cole insists that Real Madrid's interest in him underlines his ability - and has backed him to lead a positive transition at the trouble club.
He told The Sun: "The best move the club could make now, a realistic move as well, is to go to Jose Mourinho. Say that this is what we can do, and just let the man take charge of the club. Just say, rebuild my club for me, we're going to step back, you get us back on track.
"Give him a long contract, and tell the players and the fans just to take the transition. Tell the fans, we've given you what you want. Jose is in charge of bringing the players in. Jose is in charge of everything.
'So, the fans know where they stand, and the players know where they stand as a group. And then leave it. It's going to take a few years. But I'm pretty sure, in three years, Chelsea will be in a healthier position than they are now. Everyone's thinking he's finished, but there's a reason Real Madrid are looking at him."
Mourinho is thought to be the favoured choice of Los Blancos president Florentino Perez when it comes to replacing Alvaro Arbeloa this summer. The Special One has not regularly been vying for league titles since he left Chelsea in 2016, managing the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Roma.
However Mourinho remains a hugely respected figure and would be able to command a dressing room. Chelsea have continued to invest annually in their squad, but it hasn't bought them closer to the summit of the Premier League and plenty believe a strong personality in the dugout could aid the club's ambitions.
