Jose Mourinhoà has agreed on a four-year contract worth more ã50m to manage Chelsea and toà give a lifeline to former star Michael Essien next season as the coach he returns to the club.
The Portuguese, currently at Real Madrid, will be the highest-paid coach ever in the Premier League, making over ã8.5m a year after tax, the Times newspaper reported.
His return to Chelsea, where he won two league titles, was sealed during talks with Blues owner Roman Abramovich last week, the Times said, without identifying its sources.
Heââ¬â¢ll sign the contract soon after his last match as Real manager on June 1, the Times said.
Mourinho is expected to take the reigns at Stamford Bridge from next week, and he could help Essien kick start his second spell at the Blues.
Essien joined Mourinho's Real Madrid last August after struggling with injuries in West London, and despite a mystery illness in November he has become a key member of the Spanish outfit's squad.
But the Ghana international is already looking to his return to Stamford Bridge, with his chances of playing regularly boosted by talk of Mourinho's homecoming.
I will return to Chelsea with my head up and try to win my place back," Essien said.
"I think my loan at Madrid has shown I have still got it at the top level."
Mourinho signed Essien for ã24.4m in 2005 for Chelsea, and was determined to bring him to the Bernabeu last summer as he believes the 30-year-old can still cut it at the highest level.