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Jose Mourinho wants Xabi Alonso to follow him from Real Madrid to Chelsea.

The former Liverpool midfielder, 32 next month, is on a deal that's set to expire next summer and can sign a pre-contract with the Londoners in January.

It is believed he will be offered a three-year contract to reunite with Mourinho to Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are understood to be unlikely to move for troubled AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli - despite claims from the player’s agent that Mourinho is interested.

The Londoners are expected to buy another frontman in January, despite recent signs that Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto’o are rediscovering their best form.

Balotelli only joined Milan in January, after Manchester City finally washed their hands of the volatile star.

On Tuesday, however, his representative Mino Raiola said on Italian TV: “Balotelli and Mourinho could be reunited because they know each other and they didn’t leave each other with hate.”

Yet during their time together at Inter Milan, Mourinho sidelined the Italy international after a string of furious rows, even insisting: “Balotelli is unmanageable.”

Balotelli has continued his controversial antics at AC Milan, but coach Massimiliano Allegri told a news conference: “I have absolutely no fear of losing Balotelli in January.

“He is a Milan player who is now living in a time when he’s not playing well.”