Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho hasn’t even had time to place his loved one’s photo’s on his new desk and already he wants to sign them according to today’s gossip in the rags.

Before he’d arrived at the San Siro we’d been ‘reliably’ informed he planned to offer Chelsea around £35million for Drogba, Lampard and Carvalho. Now we’re told he plans to make that little trio a quartet by adding Essien to his first shopping spree courtesy of his latest boss’ millions. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s played the pied piper, with Carvalho (thankfully) and Ferreira already having followed him from Porto to Chelsea (even Hilario spent a brief spell with him before being brought to Stamford Bridge), but you’d have to hope that this time his ‘family’ feel it’s time to cut the apron strings. Not that I’m averse to him taking Drogba after the Ivorian’s performances this season. Whilst he’s been able to raise himself for the bigger games (Champions League final aside), some might suggest he’s saved his best thespian skills for the officials and press. But while I could cope pretty well with his departure, I’m not sure how I’d feel about Lampard keeping him company. Part of me knows he’s a vital cog in the Chelsea wheel but this apparent inability to sign his own name given a year in which to do it worries me to be honest and I can only assume he either lacks commitment or literacy skills. As far as Carvalho and Essien go though, I think these two should be strictly off limits as far as TSO is concerned.  Carvalho, who for me is often an unsung hero, was our best centre-back last season and would be a huge loss to the Chelsea defence, whilst Essien, now accustomed to life without Jose is not a player we’d easily replace. After a bit of a stuttering start to last season by his standards, Essien soon reminded us what a giant of a player he is. So if he’s showing even the slightest signs of itchy feet over the summer I’d suggest he’s locked in the physio’s cupboard til these undesirable symptoms go away.

However, sheer and utter panic aside, it’s not certain that this reported ‘treasure chest’ Mourinho’s hoping to spend will actually materialise anywhere near an amount large enough to take four of our best players to Inter anyway, with the billionaire oil magnate behind Inter having apparently hinted he won’t be quite as generous a boss as Mourinho was previously accustomed to. Massimo Moratti has said “I have read lots of names but I have yet to speak to him about the transfer market. I would like to change very little of this squad which has won so much.” So it could well be that Mourinho will find he has a squad of ‘untouchables’ waiting already (as far as Moratti’s concerned anyway) and this time his ex-players could be out of his reach.

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