Jose Mourinho insists he is not reliant on Wayne Rooney

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho addresses a press conference

Jose Mourinho admits that Chelsea are still interested in Wayne Rooney, but that the club have a “plan B and C” if Manchester United remain firm on not selling to a title rival.

Mourinho has already seen his two bids for the England forward rejected, but is still keen on bringing the 27-year-old to Stamford Bridge.

According to ESPN, Rooney is not the only name that Chelsea are pursing. The Portuguese manager was hinting towards Anzhi Makhachkala striker Samuel Eto’o, who has worked under Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, and Galatasaray’s Buruk Yilmaz when he spoke about having a “Plan B and C”.

Mourinho on his part, though, refused to discuss the names of the other potential signings on his shortlist, maintaining that he would conduct his business in an ethical manner.

“We have Plan B and C,” Mourinho admitted. “Don’t ask me names because it is difficult to speak about players from other clubs.

“When you think that you’d like to have one player and the market is open and the official bids are not forbidden – official bids are always accepted in an ethical way – you try because nobody forbids you to try.

“Of course, the players’ owners can do exactly what we did with David Luiz and Barcelona. It’s simple.”

Chelsea have signed Mark Schwarzer, Andre Schurrle and Marco van Ginkel this summer.