Jose Mourinho may not have landed in London on Thursday evening as had been anticipated, but he is intent that his candidacy for the post of England manager should take flight. He even sought to remove one obstacle with a declaration that he was not exploiting this particular vacancy to force, say, Real Madrid or Barcelona to offer him a post.
"Being England manager is a big job," the former Chelsea manager told Sky Sports News. "A big job is what I want. I'm not using the FA to get another job. I was upset when I heard the reports. People need to trust the FA. They should let them do their job properly. The fans should support the next man more than ever."
The reasoned tones are tailor-made to assure the FA that he can replace his inflammatory rhetoric with statesmanlike discourse as required. The Portuguese, speaking from his home in Setubal, said his intention to return to England had been unconnected to football.
"I would like to be in London with my family for a couple of days," he explained, "but nobody would believe we would be there just to see some friends and do Christmas shopping.
"So to stop speculation we decided not to go."
There should be contact with the FA shortly. Having consulted many figures in the game, the ruling body may well be able to appoint a replacement to Steve McClaren next week. Asked whether he could be the England manager, Mourinho responded: "Why not?" If there was the merest trace of diffidence in that reply it might reinforce FA concerns that he might still be on the lookout for other options.
Negotiations with Mourinho could be tortuous, in view of his requirement of a deal that might amount, with bonuses, to €8.3 million a year. The Portuguese is expected, as well, to demand the opening of a national training centre at Burton-upon-Trent, a project that meets with the FA's approval but is yet to be funded.
It is improbable Mourinho will be able to dictate his own terms because it is still entirely feasible that Fabio Capello could be preferred to him. While the FA denied claims they had met the Italian in Milan eight days ago, it would be remiss of them not to hold discussions with a person of his outstanding pedigree. There have been several recommendations of Capello from the figures consulted by the FA.
His record is formidable, he is minded, at 61, to switch to international football and, in contrast to Mourinho, he has been unambiguous about his wish to be England manager.
While Capello's English is not fluent it is felt he could improve it quickly and the expected presence of Gianfranco Zola as his assistant would bridge any cultural divide.
Apart from that, Capello unquestionably fits the bill as the "world-class manager" the FA have resolved to recruit.
Alternatives do exist in the shadows. Barwick, for instance, admires Martin O'Neill, and the FA does not view his expressions of commitment to Aston Villa as an outright rejection of the England job. There is an allure, in addition, to the claims of Jurgen Klinsmann, who is seemingly ready to leave California and return to London, his home when he was a popular centre forward for Tottenham.
Klinsmann exudes charm and sophistication, yet the FA will wonder how much weight to place on his period as figurehead when the host nation Germany got to the semi-finals of last year's World Cup.
Italy actually won that tournament and their then coach, Marcello Lippi, is available, but the extent of his interest in the England job is yet to be clarified.
