The Chelsea boss spent all summer pursuing England international John Stones only for Everton to refuse to sell.
When it became crystal clear to Mourinho that Stones would not be prised away from Goodison Park, he turned to alternative targets.
Express Sport understands Mourinho failed with moves for Paris Saint-Germain ace Marquinhos, Real Madrid star Raphael Varane, Zenit St Petersburg stopper Ezequiel Garay and missed out on Monaco man Aymen Abdennour to Valencia in the final days of the window.
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal also tried for Varane this summer but the Spanish giants do not want to lose the promising Frenchman.
PA
Jose Mourinho's pursuit of defensive reinforcements this summer was troubled
Chelsea had two bids rejected for 21-year-old Marquinhos while Real and Zenit refused to sell Varane, 22, and Garay, 28, respectively.
Abdennour is believed to have preferred a move to Stamford Bridge but joined Valencia as the European window ticked down.
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