JOSE MOURINHO reportedly rejected a third spell as Chelsea manager after being approached by his former club.
The Blues are seeking a new permanent head coach following the sacking of Graham Potter last month.
Club legend Frank Lampard has taken over as interim boss until the end of the season while the search for a long-term replacement continues.
And former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino seems to be closing in on the role.
But according to Corriere dello Sport, via Football Italia, a Chelsea director had contacted Mourinho about the vacancy.
It was reportedly an attempt to gauge Mourinho’s interest in the role.
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And the Roma head coach is understood to have turned down any discussions about the position.
Instead, the ex-Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs boss wants to hold talks with Roma chief Dan Friedkin in a bid to iron out his long-term future.
Mourinho, 60, who won three Premier League titles with Chelsea across his two spells at Stamford Bridge, has a contract with the Italian giants until the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
But he could yet extend his stay with the Serie A club – where he lifted the Europa Conference League last season.
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Roma sit sixth in Italy’s top flight, below Inter Milan and AC Milan on goal difference.
They are also into the Europa League semi-finals where they will take on Bayer Leverkusen.
Meanwhile, Chelsea sit 12th in the Premier League table and have lost all five games under interim head coach Lampard.
They are eight matches without a win in all competitions ahead of their trip to the Emirates to take on Premier League leaders Arsenal on Tuesday evening.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
