What to expect from Chelsea this transfer window

As a new transfer window kicks off, recurring themes can be seen on the English shores. Manchester City continue identifying ridiculously priced home grown Englishmen who they can buy and ‘integrate’ them on the bench and sell them off after wiping a few zeroes off their value to make place for another highly rated home-grown player.

Manchester United’s window kicks off with pledges to finally fill the gaping holes in defence and midfield left by departing legends Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic with a capable replacement in the shape of a Mats Hummels or an Arturo Vidal and ends with them signing another attacker for a significant outlay leaving many questioning whether it was really necessary.

The Reds of Merseyside continue their wild card lottery approach of signing wheeler dealer bargains or outrageously priced unknowns hoping that one of their dark horse signings becomes a hit.

Meanwhile in London, Arsenal continues to pursue the “next” - ‘Next-Viera’ a position they have never truly been able to fill since their former Captain’s departure, irrespective of what the agents of Mikel Arteta or Matthieu Flamini would have us believe.

Last season, one team who was really swift and decisive in securing players who would strengthen their team was Chelsea. Identifying very early the positions needing reinforcements and pinpointing the exact personnel he wanted, Mourinho was able to secure Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas. That was probably the most crucial among other factors which were instrumental in them being crowned as Champions in dominant fashion.

It is all the more impressive when you realise that Chelsea’s net spending was a staggering £5.1 Million with the £30million and £32million deals for Costa and Fabregas being offset by the transfer fee and wages of players which didn’t fit into Mourinho’s plans like Romelu Lukaku, David Luiz and Demba Ba.

This was much to the dismay of Arsene Wenger and the United faithful who almost in hypocrisy continue to deride Chelsea on their spending when they have forked out paltry sums of £65million and £104Million respectively.

Chelsea’s 2014/15 season recap

The Chelsea team had a solid dependable defence, a perfect central midfield pivot and an attack which can strike fear in an opponent’s mind which was equally efficient at fluid attacking moves as it was at “putting in a shift” when the team needed it. It had what the manager was craving for since he came back to England, balance. A team built on exactly what the manager thrives on a typical ‘Mourinho team’.

Chelsea began the season in truly flamboyant fashion exhibiting urgency, dominating teams and blowing competition out of the water like a typical ‘Mourinho-team’ effective, no-nonsense, precise, clinical and ruthless till the last whistle. Defeats to Brentford and Tottenham in quick succession soon knocked them off steam. Almost suddenly it looked like a completely different team, patient, unadventurous and the team who was tipped to break goal records were suddenly “Boring 1-0 ‘ers”.

At tough away matches and during the festive season, Mourinho set his team to grind out results and get the job done (or “park the bus” depending on who you support) rather than approach each match with a gung-ho style.

The slump in form or style or whatever you prefer to call it was as much due to injury,suspensions and the jadedness of the players due to Mourinho’s completely non-existent rotation policy as it was to the cautious and overtly un-cavalier approach adopted by him as the business end approached which has won him many-a-trophies in world football.

Oscar who began the season brightly waned into oblivion mid-way. Suspensions and injuries prevented Costa and Fabregas following up their early season form into the second half of the season. It was only Hazard’s blistering form and Terry’s resurgence at the back that prevented Chelsea’s title charge from derailing.

As Mourinho stated at the end of the season. Chelsea has a squad of Champions and it’s hard to tinker with a winning team, but it does need reinforcements if it has to sustain another title challenge.

Goalkeeper

With Petr Cech having been allowed to move to cross-town title rivals Arsenal, there is a huge hole in terms of experience, locker room influence and undoubted ability. Asmir Begovic and Robert Green have both been linked with a move to Chelsea.

It has been reported that Begovic is close to a move. It is essential to get this deal done quickly before the De Gea to Madrid saga draws to a close as a starting berth at United would definitely be more attractive than a cup-matches berth at Chelsea. Begovic would do well to move to a club who has higher ambition than Stoke would ever have in the foreseeable future and would be backing himself to support if not compete with Courtois for the number one spot.

Defence

Ivanovic and Azpilicueta are probably the strongest and stringiest pair of full backs around in world football. With Ivanovic in his early 30’s and Azpilicueta in his 20’s , Chelsea seem to be covered in these positions for at least a couple of years. But there is a huge question mark on the backups available to Chelsea. With Filipe Luis finding it difficult to take to the Premier league in a way his Atletico team-mate Costa did, Mourinho seems to be ever so reluctant to rest either of his first choice full backs.

With Christensen and Ake both set to be farmed out on loan this time around, a backup fullback seems due. Rumours suggest that Chelsea are interested in signing Abdul Rahman Baba, the Ghanian left back who plays for German side Augsburg is said to be valued at £20m by the club.

John Terry enjoyed one of the best campaigns in his career at the ripe old age of 34. His defensive partner Gary Cahill was shaky at best in spells this season and lost his place in the squad for a few matches to Kurt Zouma the French wonder kid who has been very impressive since he made a switch to Chelsea from St. Etienne.

Looking at the waning powers of Terry it is necessary that Chelsea sign a centre back. Raphael Varane being linked ever since Mourinho moved but that move always seemed unlikely and one that would cost a lot of money. With Ramos now linked with an exit from Madrid this move won’t ever see the light of the day.

With the agent of the Stuttgart defender Antonio Rudiger claiming interest from Chelsea before adding he would prefer to stay in Germany the only target who does seem viable is Everton’s John Stones. The 20-year old has been tipped for big things in football and would definitely not come cheap as the club seems to value him at around £20Million.

But with Lukaku and Atsu being allowed to move to Everton in recent seasons, it can oil the wheels a little and if Chelsea can match the valuation of the Toffees and sweeten the deal further by including one of their many loan stars as part exchange.

Midfield

Matic and Fabregas are perfect foils for each other. But with Mikel reportedly moving away and Ramires with his kidney problem a backup midfielder could be a priority. With Mourinho opting to play a 4-3-3 against big teams and the inconsistent form of Oscar, a central midfielder who can also play behind the striker is where Chelsea should be looking to invest.

With Mourinho publicly staking his reputation on coming good on his promise to integrate one or two of his promising youngsters, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Isaiah Brown may be the ideal solution. With the manager heavily criticising Loftus-Cheek in a pre-season match just emphasises the high regard to which Mourinho holds him, considering the fact that he doesn’t feel the need to explain his demands to players he feels doesn’t fit in the picture, with Mata and De Bruyne being examples.

Wide attacking berths seem settled as Hazard and Willian who played brightly last season and Cuadrado having just shined at the Copa would be hoping to carry on his form this season. Oscar who started the season in blistering form is finally having a full pre-season since moving to Chelsea will be hoping to capitalise on his fitness after much-needed rest.

Forwards

Diego Costa got himself 22 goals last season. Loic Remy when fit showed that he could do the job for the Blues whenever he made it into the line-up. Didier Drogba wasn’t as effective as in his younger days but he still made himself count by scoring crucial goals at vital junctures in the season.

With Drogba moving on, and Remy attracting strong interest from the likes of West-Ham, Chelsea need a couple of strikers. Falcao has completed a loan move from Monaco and Mourinho is hoping to return the world-class striker to his best. Patrick Bamford had a successful season last year being named as the Championship Player of the Year and would hope to remain at Stamford Bridge in the event of Remy moving on.

Bertrand Traore, another youngster who Mourinho holds in the highest of regards has finally fulfilled his work-permit criteria and he may well be the backup striker in the squad come next season.