Mourinho tops a shortlist of candidates to take over from Rafa Benitez at the end of this season. It also includes Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini and Everton chief David Moyes, while Swansea’s Michael Laudrup is under consideration along with former Chelsea heroes Gus Poyet and Gianfranco Zola, in charge at Brighton and Watford respectively. Chelsea won back-to-back league titles in 2005 and 2006 under Mourinho, among the six trophies he won in his three stormy years at the club.

Roman is not sure of Jose, because of the history between the two of them and what happened before

A source close to Abramovich said: “Roman is not sure of Jose, because of the history between the two of them and what happened before.



“He is worried that the same things could happen again. He’s still making up his mind.”



Mourinho left Chelsea in September 2007 after a series of rows with Abramovich saw their relationship deteriorate disastrously over transfer policy, and the appointments of Frank Arnesen and Avram Grant.



Chelsea will freeze Premier League and European ticket prices for next season – for the sixth time in eight campaigns.

Chief executive Ron Gourlay said: “We want to thank our supporters for the consistently very good attendances.”