Former Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou has told ESPN that he believes that the club will benefit strongly from the return of Jose Mourinho.

The Ivory Coast forward, who has recently been linked with a return to the Premier League, was bought by Mourinho in 2006, and went on to score sixty goals in two hundred and fifty-one appearances for the Blues.

“We all know what Jose can do,” Kalou said. “Jose can bring team spirit into a club and I think Chelsea at this moment need that.”

The forward also spoke highly of Romelu Lukaku, who is expected to feature for the club this season having spent the last campaign away on loan.

“He did well at West Brom and I think he can do the same at Chelsea,” Kalou says. “He has the ability, he is powerful and he can score goals. I think he is going to be amazing this year.”

Meanwhile, the club have had a second bid for Wayne Rooney rejected by Manchester United, the Express understand.

The England international may now hand in a transfer request to force through a move before the start of the season.

The Premier League champions maintain that the 27 year old, who has been ruled out of today’s friendly against AIK, is not for sale though with Rooney reportedly favouring a transfer, the saga is set to continue.