Jose Mourinho is considering returning to his former club Real Madrid in an attempt to loan Portugal left-back Fabio Coentrao, ESPN has reported.

ESPN cite the Daily Mail, who claim that Ashley Cole may no longer be guaranteed a place in the Chelsea side as his rib injury lingers, threatening to keep the England international out of action for two months. Cole has not played for Chelsea since the beginning of November, in the defeat to Newcastle, with only a short appearance for England against Germany in the intervening period.

Coentrao was close to joining Premier League champions Manchester United this summer, only for the move to collapse and the former Benfica player to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu.