Mourinho complains of Chelsea inflation

Inter boss Jose Mourinho believes his former club Chelsea are making it difficult for him to sign Deco and Ricardo Carvalho.

Mourinho said yesterday attempts to bring playmaker Deco and defender Carvalho foundered when the London club ramped up the price after discovering his interest.

"To be fair about Deco, I feel it's very difficult for a Chelsea player to come to me," the Portuguese told a news conference ahead of tomorrow's Italian Super Cup against Lazio in Beijing.

"Every time I'm interested in one of their players, it looks quite different. In the summer we were told he was almost free to come. Two weeks later, when they know Inter are interested, it goes zero to five (million) and for Carvalho from five to 15 (million). Something like that."

Mourinho also said Inter had heard nothing from Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur about midfielder Patrick Vieira, who has been linked with a move back to former club Arsenal or their North London rivals.

"If they want him, they have to let us know. I have to say until this moment, no Tottenham, no Arsenal. They have not contacted us," he said, adding that the Frenchman would be on the bench for tomorrow's match and remained "an option" for Inter.

Carvalho was one of Mourinho's first signings following his subsequent move to Chelsea, while Deco joined the London club in 2008 after a successful spell at Barcelona.

Mourinho, who has brought in four new players since the end of last season, said he would still like to add a playmaker to his side, even if it was not Deco.

"We want a playmaker, yes," he added.

"It's a position for a long time we think we needed. Stankovic did a great job for us last season but it's not his best position for the team."