Mourinho to return?

The smooth-talking Portuguese is unhappy with his treatment by the Italian press and repeatedly praises the Premier League for its excitement and fair-play.

And despite his acrimonious departure from Stamford Bridge early in the 2007-08 season, Mourinho is still massively popular in the Chelsea dressing-room and wanted by the players should temporary boss Guus Hiddink stand by his promise to continue with Russia.

Dutchman Hiddink has impressed so far but is not expected to stay beyond the end of the season, with Russia battling to qualify for the World Cup.

The only problem preventing Mourinho from a return to West London would be his fractious relationship with owner Roman Abramovich, who would have to swallow his pride to re-employ the man he felt was undermining his authority.

Furthermore, Mourinho is a contrary so-and-so and would relish the chance to take over at Manchester United once his pal Sir Alex Ferguson retires, sticking it to Abramovich and Peter Kenyon in the process.

Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti is still being linked with the Blues job but, given the failure of Luiz Felipe Scolari to get instant results, it is unlikely the Italian will be given time to master the English language and game.

Wigan's on-loan Zamalek striker Amr Zaki is set to return to the JJB after going AWOL for a fourth time this season and, even though his Latics career seems to be over, he could have earned himself a move to a 'bigger' club.

Until the goals dried up this winter, Zaki had been widely expected to join a Champions League team in the summer, with his Egyptian club throwing around wildly-inflated transfer fees for the ex-ENPPI man.

That interest waned with his performances and the post-international no-show saw his stock fall even further.

And now, having been linked with Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea and Juventus, Zaki is rumoured to be on Harry Redknapp's Tottenham wish-list.

What a difference three months can make.

Aston Villa's Gareth Barry has again reiterated his desire to play in the Champions League next season, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United sniffing around.

"My aim is to finish in the top four and play in the Champions League," he said in The Sun, while Martin O'Neill conceded that he will only stay if they catch Arsenal, who are six points ahead with seven games remaining. Unlikely, alas.

Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini could be set for an exit from St James' Park less than a year after he arrived for a whopping £12 million.

The Argentina stopper impressed initially but has committed a series of errors that have made him a mini-scapegoat for Toon's plight.

A return to Spain has been mooted, with former club Deportivo and Liga Toon-equivalent Atletico Madrid sniffing around.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is a big fan of Nordic players after his stints in Sweden, Denmark and Finland and is looking at Coventry's 19-year-old Iceland midfielder Aaron Gunnarsson.

He would cost around £1.5m and would provide competition for places with Danny Murphy and Dickson Etuhu, following the departure of Jimmy Bullard.

French defender Camel Meriem could join Bolton on a free transfer after his contract expires with Monaco in the summer.

The 29-year-old is set to shun bids from bigger clubs such as Deportivo and Borussia Dortmund so he can have a crack at English football, saying: "It's about what's best for my football, not the money."

Pompey's on-loan Leverkusen striker Theofanis Gekas has been tipped to move to Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg after failing to impress Pompey boss Paul Hart.

Indeed, Gekas is so out-of-favour that David Nugent gets selected above him despite the Greek star having a goalscoring record of 13 goals in 38 internationals and 33 in two seasons in the Bundesliga.

Months after being linked with Arsenal, Pompey midfielder Niko Kranjcar's determination to quit if they are relegated could see him move to whoever will have him.

Pathaninaikos have been linked with a £10m bid for the Croatia international.