There are reports in England that Chelsea fans singing for Jose Mourinho should not expect a reunion, with sources on both sides playing down the chances of the three-time Premier League winner ever returning to Stamford Bridge.

The name of the out-of-work 61-year-old was chanted during Saturday’s disappointing 2-2 draw with Brentford while supporters also called for Mauricio Pochettino’s sacking at the Gtech Community Stadium.

According to the Daily Mail, contacts close to Mourinho have refused to say whether he would or would not be willing to come back, though they believe there is no appetite from Chelsea to appoint him for a third term.

Insiders at the club have echoed that statement, one individual involved in the new project suggesting it would send the wrong message if they returned to the face of the old ownership.

Instead, Mail Sport reported in February how Chelsea have a long-standing interest in a different Portuguese manager – Ruben Amorim of Sporting Lisbon. Amorim is expected to have several other offers this summer, however, with Liverpool among those linked in their search for Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

Chelsea insist they are still backing Pochettino, who faces a nervy end to his first campaign in charge. The hierarchy are naturally wary of what happened last season when they sacked Graham Potter in April and won only one of their remaining 10 Premier League games to finish 12th.

Mourinho, who led Roma to successive European finals during his time at the club, was sacked by the Italian giants in February after slipping to ninth in the Serie A table.

The acrimonious exit concluded with Mourinho leaving a brutal nine-word note, which read: “When you are men, give it back to me.”

As far as Chelsea are concerned, it appears unlikely the west London club will ‘give back’ the managerial role according to insiders, despite Mourinho boasting the most successful portfolio at Stamford Bridge during the Premier League era.