Chelsea are the favourites for the title, not Manchester United, says Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho says former club Chelsea remain Premier League favourites despite Antonio Conte struggling in some areas, the on-going Diego Costa debacle and their chastening opening-weekend defeat.

Hope brought by the start of a new season is underpinned by expectation at Stamford Bridge after the Italian led the Blues to the title in his first season at the helm.

Conte's achievements were all the more impressive given the previous campaign's atrocious title defence brought Mourinho's second spell at the Stamford Bridge halt to an unceremonious halt.

But things appear to have gone awry at the start of the current Chelsea manager's second season, with Costa still on their books, the squad looking patchy in places and a season-opening 3-2 home loss to Burnley.

Things do not get any easier as they head to Wembley to face rivals Tottenham on Sunday, but Manchester United manager Mourinho - who saw his side thrash West Ham 4-0 on the opening weekend - says Conte's side remain the side to beat.

"For me the favourite is the champion - always," the United boss said ahead of the trip to Swansea.

"Because for some reason was the champion.

"It doesn't mean you are going to win it but I think it is the stamp that you have when you are champion, it is that the next season you are the favourite."

The subject of the Premier League favourite stemmed from Mourinho scoffing at the suggestion United were in a more stable position than their rivals.

Some have large question marks over key players and others still need key reinforcements, but the Portuguese says they are not the "dream team" after beating West Ham nor does their relative stability mean they have an advantage.

"No," Mourinho said. "If they have problems the problems are going to finish in a couple of weeks because in a couple of weeks the market is closed and they don't have problems anymore.

"If they have - and I don't know if they have - in a couple of weeks the problems are over.

"They have very good teams, very good players and I don't see any reason for them not to be fighting for the title.

"When people say, for example, Chelsea lost an important midfield player, you know if you lose one but you buy (Tiemoue) Bakayoko and (Danny) Drinkwater for example, what's the problem?

"The problem is when you sell and you don't buy. But when you sell and you keep buying, what's the problem?

"You are probably even stronger, so I think every top team in the Premier League is strong enough, with potential is strong enough with the financial situation to be fighting for everything.

"And when everybody is also in Europe - five in the Champions League and then two in the Europa League - you have the top seven teams playing for everything and all of them are strong."

Drinkwater remains a Leicester player, but Standard Sport understands that Chelsea are lining up a second bid for the midfielder.