Scolari, currently in charge of Portugal, is set to take up his new role in England on July 1, but there are fears that Lampard could be set to quit the club for Inter Milan.

Those fears were heightened today when former Blues boss Jose Mourinho revealed he is planning a raid on Chelsea for both Lampard and striker Didier Drogba.

Mourinho, who is also keen to sign Barcelona's Deco - whom he managed at Porto - said: "I am not nostalgic but I really like those three players, they helped me win some great titles.

"I cannot forget Deco, Lampard and Drogba. These are players who I could never say no to. I would love to work with them again in the future, but I am not too obsessed with this idea. I don't know which of these three will leave their clubs but we will see."

Mourinho's comments come amid reports that Lampard's talks over a new Chelsea contract have hit a snag over the duration of the new deal.

And, according to Italian media reports, Inter have already offered the former West Ham player a five-year deal.

Lampard, who turns 30 tomorrow, knows this could be the last big contract of his career. He wants Chelsea to extend his contract, which expires next summer, by another four years. Chelsea are understood to have offered two years.

Lampard's future became further clouded when agent Franco Granello claimed he was acting for the player and would meet with Inter's bosses in the next 10 days.

The midfielder is currently away on holiday and his affairs are normally the preserve of English-based agent Steve Kutner.

Granello told Tuttomercatoweb: "At the moment I've been on holiday for about a week.

"But it doesn't seem to me that Lampard's transfer has already been completed. I have a meeting with Inter in 10 days but for now I'm enjoying the rest."

Inter president Massimo Moratti has already revealed that Lampard is a transfer target for his club.

Another name on their shopping list is Portugal international Deco and Mourinho could steal him from underneath Chelsea's noses after the London club's interest in the player waned due to the £15 million asking price.

Barcelona vice-president Marc Ingla insists they have yet to receive a bid for Deco from the Blues.