Chelsea and Tottenham watch on as Jose Mourinho Premier League return club set

Former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho reportedly feels as if he has 'unfinished business' in the Premier League and sees replacing Eddie Howe at Newcastle United as his best opportunity.

Mourinho's latest venture has seen him take over at Fenerbahce this season. The Portuguese coach clearly hasn't changed since his days at either Stamford Bridge or the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as he was his usual fiery self when he went on an extraordinary rant last week about the standard of officiating in Turkey.

"Nobody abroad wants to watch the Turkish league," he said. "Who wants to watch this Turkish league abroad? They have the Premier League, they have the French league, they have the German league, they have the Portuguese league, and they have the Dutch league. Why should they see this? … It’s too grey, it’s too dark, smells bad. But that’s my job, and I will give everything to my job, to my club."

With these grievances aired, the Guardian reports that the 61-year-old is eyeing a return to the pinnacle of the sport and specifically wishes to return to England.

They say that last month when Man United went to Istanbul to play his side in the Europa League he was even on 'charm offensive', greeting old colleagues and reporters warmly. At that time Erik ten Hag's position was under threat, but that door has since been fully closed he knows that countryman Ruben Amorim is to take over in a matter of days.

He will also be aware of the fact that Chelsea at the start of this season committed to Enzo Maresca leading their project on a five-year contract with the option for an additional sixth. The Blues are enjoying the fruits of their labour as things stand, sitting fourth in the Premier League.

Tottenham are not too far behind, sitting seventh, though only two points worse off. Ange Postecoglou has headed on-field matters there since last summer, and all is firmly content as well.

Therefore the door is seemingly shut were Mourinho to be dreaming of a third stint in the west of the capital or a second in the north. That is why he is rumoured to have reached out to intermediaries so that he can keep informed on matters at Newcastle.

Currently the Magpies sit 11th in the table - only a single point off Spurs' seventh-place spot that might be required to meet their target of European qualification come the season's end. Though that is only after going five games without a win until recently beating Arsenal.

Two seasons ago they had qualified for the Champions League, then last year missed out on Europe entirely, so Howe will be well aware of the perception that his team aren't moving forwards, and he will also understand there is pressure to achieve targets whilst he has the backing of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Ultimately the Englishman has no intention of leaving by his own accord, so Mourinho will be waiting for Newcastle chairman Yasir al-Rumayyan to take decisive action that will pave a road to St. James' Park.

An added layer to that conundrum is that the Fenerbahce manager is believed to have 'maintained a connection' with the PIF governor after their meeting in a social capacity at Formula 1's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March.