Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has officially confirmed his interest in Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas. The Spaniard has told his current club Barcelona that he wants a return to the Premier League.

With Arsenal having ruled out a move for their former captain, Chelsea are now in pole position to wrap up a deal for the Catalonian star.

Mourinho is apparently looking to replace Frank Lampard before the start of the coming season, and told reporters yesterday: 

“I have been analysing the situation, I think it looks like he’s really interested in leaving Barcelona and is very, very interested in coming back to England.

“He wants to come to England because it’s the country where he wants to be, where he prefers to play. We are interested in monitoring that situation.”