Mourinho Mad on Ashley

Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are also on his wishlist. SunSport yesterday revealed Mourinho had targeted the Chelsea defender, convinced he will want to escape England following his bitter divorce from wife Cheryl.

Mourinho, about to be named the new Bernabeu boss, said: "I prefer to play with attacking full-backs in the style of Ashley Cole and Maicon."

The ex-Blues manager has other Premier League stars in his sights, too.

He added: "Both Gerrard and Lampard are great players who give everything.

"I like to have some players who are in their 30s and in the final part of their careers.

"These are the players that you buy and do not recover the money.

"But if they give you good performances for two or three years you still get your money's worth."

Lampard, 32 next month, spent three years with Mourinho at Chelsea and became the manager's most reliable player and closest dressing-room ally.

He had the chance to follow Mourinho to the San Siro in 2008 but chose to sign a new £150,000-a-week deal at Stamford Bridge.

Gerrard, 30, was also on the brink of signing for Mourinho in 2005 but had a last-minute change of heart and chose to stay with Liverpool.