A source close to Abramovich said: “Jose has been sending messages to people at the club. Not just to Roman, to everybody, dropping hints.”

And Daily Express can reveal Mourinho has been in contact with owner Abramovich, senior Chelsea players and staff.

Mourinho, set to leave Real Madrid after huge fall-outs with the club hierarchy and key players, is favourite to return as manager in the summer after Pep Guardiola joined Bayern Munich.

Jose has been sending messages to people at the club. Not just to Roman, to everybody, dropping hints

Several players remain from the Mourinho era of 2004-07, including skipper John Terry, Frank Lampard, Petr Cech and Ashley Cole, and some keep in regular touch with him.

Abramovich and Mourinho parted company after a fall-out in 2007 but have patched up their relationship since.

Interim boss Rafa Benitez is almost certain to go in the summer and Mourinho, 49, has said he would love to return as he has a “love affair” with English football. He has strong links with London – buying a house not far from Stamford Bridge last year – and his 16-year-old daughter Tita is attending Camberwell College of Arts.

Manchester City remain keen on Mourinho, but Chelsea is where he has always maintained he feels he has a special bond.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid have made the first moves towards rescuing Fernando Torres from his Chelsea nightmare in the summer. The Spanish club want to try to secure a season-long loan for £50million misfit Torres with a view to a permanent move.

Torres, 28, has always insisted Atletico, where he began his career and made his name, is his first love and the club are making plans for the possible departures of Radamel Falcao – a Chelsea target – and Adrian Lopez.