Who's who on Jose's hit list

Mourinho said: "What's obvious is that Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool will try to strengthen their teams for next season. "Maybe next season Chelsea will do a magnificent season but someone else does better, so I can't think it will be easy.

"I think it's very difficult to be champions in England but, of course, we want to win again next time. I can't say Manchester United and Arsenal failed this season. I think that Chelsea succeeded. There is a difference."

The key to Chelsea's title defence could rest on their activity in the transfer market this summer which, despite claims to the contrary, is likely to be significant.

With injuries to Paulo Ferreira, Wayne Bridge, Damien Duff and Arjen Robben robbing them of all width it is possible to argue that only a lack of numbers prevented them winning a clean sweep of trophies this season.

Their FA Cup run ended ignominiously with just eight players on the pitch at Newcastle, remember, and they were beaten by fatigue rather than Liverpool in the European Cup semi-final last week.

Mourinho is aware of such limitations and has already acted to correct them, insisting Chelsea will retain their title if they recruit the right personnel.

He said: "We are the champions because we're in good shape. If we keep the majority of these players and buy three more - and that's my goal - then I believe Chelsea will become even stronger and more competitive.

"I believe we can get there if this idea is allowed. We can end the rotation of titles between Manchester United and Arsenal, and from now on they will look at us with different eyes."

Despite having an unlimited budget, it is in the area of player recruitment that Mourinho has been proved fallible. His tactical, organisational and motivational skills are beyond reproach, but not so the player judgement of the man who signed Mateja Kezman.

Of the six players Mourinho has brought to Chelsea, only the Porto pairing of Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho have proved to be an unqualified success. The impact of Tiago and Jiri Jarosik has been strictly limited and Didier Drogba has missed more chances than he's scored, while Kezman is too scared to shoot to ever hit the target.

With a full summer ahead and the persuasive power of those Russian roubles behind him Mourinho should fare better this time, though there is still no guarantee that he will get the players he wants.

Roman Abramovich's top strike target Andriy Shevchenko appears little more than a pipe dream, while it may prove equally difficult to prise Adriano away from Inter Milan.

Samuel Eto'o is another ambitious target, which Barcelona's disregard for Chelsea makes even more remote, and as a result the club are now considering a move for Porto striker Benni McCarthy.

Having been rescued by Mourinho once before when he was at Celta Vigo, the South African would relish the chance to work with a man he considers his saviour, while Porto would be willing to cash in on a player languishing in their reserves.

Mourinho's midfield options are equally complicated, with firstchoice signings Steven Gerrard and Xavi likely to stay at Liverpool and Barcelona respectively. Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien is likely to leave Lyon but Arsenal and Manchester United appear to be above Chelsea in the pecking order, while Argentine Javier Mascherano is available from River Plate but would represent a risk at his first European club.

It is only at left-back where Mourinho has no shortage of options, with Czech Republic international Marek Jankulovski currently favoured ahead of Brazilian Dede, Athletic Bilbao's Spanish international Asier Del Horno and Kakha Kaladze, of AC Milan. The 28-year-old is expected to leave Udinese at the end of the season and Mourinho has been impressed by his ability to fill in at right-back, where Glen Johnson has hardly excelled this season.

The former West Ham defender is one of several players whose future is in doubt, with Kezman, Geremi and Carlo Cudicini all expected to leave in the next two months.

As the wine is uncorked and the chat commences, Ferguson could do a lot worse than trying to sign the Italian this evening.

THE STRIKERS

The main man
Benni McCarthy Porto £5m

The other contenders
Andriy Shevchenko AC Milan £40m
Adriano Inter Milan £40m
Samuel Eto'o Barcelona £30m

THE MIDFIELDERS

The main man
Michael Essien Lyon £14m

The other contenders
Steven Gerrard Liverpool £30m
Xavi Barcelona £20m
Javier Mascherano River Plate £8m

THE DEFENDERS

The main man
Dede B Dortmund £6m

The other contenders
Asier del Horno Athletic Bilbao £15m
Kakha Kaladze AC Milan £8m
Marek Jankulovski Udinese £8m