Mourinho has been linked with a return to Stamford Bridge throughout the campaign, but those reports intensified after he hinted at working in England after Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League exit.

The Portuguese manager led Chelsea to their first ever Premier League titles during his four-year reign from 2004 to 2007, in which they also won the FA Cup and League Cup.

"If I was at another club and looking for someone who would give me the maximum chance of winning, it's Jose Mourinho," Kenyon told the BBC.

"You've got one of the best clubs, one of the best owners and one of the best coaches - it's a hard combination to resist.

"I'd need some other very strong candidates to look elsewhere and you'd have to say he's very much on the shortlist.

"Pep Guardiola would have been up there (as a candidate) but he's not available. Manuel Pellegrini you would definitely look at. But if I was looking at Pellegrini or Jose, Jose would win hands down."

Kenyon also said that if Mourinho was to return to Chelsea, he would need to have been in talks with controversial owner Roman Abramovich for some time.

Mourinho left Chelsea after falling out with Abramovich, and went on to lead Inter Milan to UEFA Champions League glory and two Serie A titles.

"They're both very strong individuals and before this appointment happens, if it happens, there will be an awful lot of discussion between those two," he said. 

"It's a very different team now, that is at a very different part of its evolution as a major European team, and clarification is needed over players."