Jose Mourinho has told Spanish television that he expects to be appointed Chelsea manager by the end of this week.
The Portuguese coach rounded off his three-year reign at Real Madrid with a 4-2 victory over Osasuna on Saturday, having already confirmed he would be leaving Spain at the end of the season.
And in an interview with TV football show Punto Pelota, Mourinho insisted his return to Stamford Bridge will be made official within the next few days.
"I'm going to London on Monday and at the end of the week I will be the manager of Chelsea," he said. "I feel the people there love me and in life you have to look for that.
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"Life is beautiful and short and you must look for what you think is best for you."
The 50-year-old led Chelsea to back-to-back Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006 before departing in 2007 after reported disagreements with owner Roman Abramovich over transfer budgets.
He is now set to replace former interim manager Rafael Benitez, who left the club after guiding them to third place in the Premier League while also clinching Europa League glory.
Mourinho's appointment has been widely anticipated for several months, but the Premier League was forced to issue an apology to Chelsea after they reported he had already signed a deal with the London club.
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An article, headlined "Jose Mourinho makes Chelsea return" was published on Sunday, but it has since been removed from the premierleague.com website.
A spokesman for the Premier League said: "It was a publishing error. We took it down as soon as we were notified of it, and we've spoken to and apologised to Chelsea.
"We have no prior knowledge of any movement or any announcement regarding Jose Mourinho."
The article's sub-header read 'Portuguese coach back at Stamford Bridge after signing a XX-year contract', and the Premier League indicated it was an article which was being prepared in anticipation of a possible announcement.
Former Chelsea star Arjen Robben, who won two league titles at Chelsea, thinks that Mourinho can replicate that success on his return.
"It's a big move for Chelsea with Jose coming back but I know it is one the fans will welcome," the Bayern Munich winger told The Sunday People.
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"He had very successful years at Chelsea and he can have them again.
"The thing about Jose is that he will win at any cost; he doesn't care how, he just wants to win.
"I've not always been supportive of the style of football he plays, but he is a winner who has achieved great success. I am sure that with some big signings from the owner that Jose and Chelsea can rule England again."
His former team-mate Frank Lampard sealed a new contract at Chelsea last month and Robben believes it could be down to Mourinho's homecoming.
"It is no surprise to me that Frank is now staying. It cannot be for football reasons that he was going because he is still one of the best. It must have been a personal thing with the old coach," he said.
"As soon as it became clear Jose would return, there was never any chance Frank would go because there is such respect and a friendship between the two of them.
"He sent me a text after we won the final, that is the sort of classy guy Frank is."
