Chelsea's summer transfer window so far: Blues have brought in genuine quality.. but biggest signing is Jose Mourinho

29 Jul 2013 07:00

Chief Football Writer Martin Lipton assesses summer recruitment so far and looks at where they can improve before September 2

Transformation: Jose Mourinho has helped build a stronger squad

Stanley Chou

There are now only five weeks until the summer transfer window slams firmly shut and chequebooks are put back into the top drawer.
But it has been a busy time for all of the country's sides as they build a squad they believe can challenge for the title.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been busy already , bringing in the likes of Marco Van Ginkel and Andre Schuerrle.
And we've almost certainly not heard the last of Wayne Rooney .
Our Chief Football Writer Martin Lipton assesses how Chelsea have done in the transfer window and whether there are still players who need shipping out.

How does the overall picture look?

The biggest signing will not kick a ball. The return of Jose Mourinho has already transformed the SW6 mood, with the fans who were mutinous at times last season suddenly very much back in the fold. Of course, results are the best mortar in the business but Chelsea supporters think they've got the best bricks - and brickie - going. The squad certainly appears stronger, on the evidence of the Far East tour, although you might argue they could do with a better cover left-back, another holding body in the engine room and of course a genuine, world-class striker. More of which below....

Have they offloaded who they wanted to? If not, who still needs to go?

Gone: Florent Malouda would have been a costly player to keep

Darren Walsh

  Ditching Ross Turnbull and Hilario was at least two years overdue, and few tears will be shed. Paulo Ferreira's departure, on the other hand, will have been met by some sadness. He was a loyal club man over nine seasons. The other first-team squad members to go will not be missed, though. Yossi Benayoun's Liverpool past was a millstone too heavy for him ever to lift, although the Israeli will always believe there was an element of something more insidious about his unpopularity than that bit of foolish badge-kissing when on loan at Arsenal. Marko Marin left without even leaving footprint in the sand for the tide to wash over. Oriol Romeu has never turned his early promise into reality and it seems reasonable to suspect he will not come back from his lone spell at Valencia. As for Florent Malouda, £90,000 per week to stay in the youth team block for 12 months seems an extravagance, even by Chelsea standards.

How have they done on recruitment?

Pretty well, I would say, although, as Mourinho will tell you, he views the returning loanees as being as significant as any of the player bought this summer. Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne certainly made real impacts in Asia, to suggest they are serious contenders for major roles, although Tomas Kalas may have to be content with a place in the central defensive rotation at this stage. Mark Schwarzer is the best back-up keeper they have had for at least eight years - since Carlo Cudicini lost his competitive edge - while Marco Van Ginkel and Andre Schurrle have genuine quality.

Are they involved in any 'sagas'? What stage are these at?

Wanted man: Wayne Rooney is still a target for Chelsea

Getty

  Not the hardest question to answer! Mourinho said in Thailand that it is ''Wayne Rooney or bust'' and Chelsea are convinced they will get the England star by the end of the window. In truth, that will probably mean in the final few days. Chelsea need a line leader, they missed out on Radomel Falcao, Edinson Cavani and Robert Lewandowski. Rooney becomes even more important now.
It is hard, if not impossible, to envisage Manchester United selling Rooney before August 26. Allowing David Moyes' first home game to become all about Rooney's return to Old Trafford would be strategic madness. It will not happen. Chelsea know United making a marquee signing in the No 10 role would make getting Rooney far easier. The Blues hierarchy, though, do genuinely believe they will get their man.

What do they need to do in the next month before the window shuts?

Mourinho is adamant that Rooney is the only player he wants, dismissing summer links with Daniele De Rossi and others. That may change, of course, if any players want to leave - should John Obi Mikel depart, then De Rossi might come back onto the radar. Mourinho seems content to let Ryan Bertrand remain as Ashley Cole's back-up, with Branislav Ivanovic pencilled in as first choice on the right, which might make Cesar Azpilicueta question his future in World Cup year. But Rooney is the key to everything.

And who might still go?

Azpilicueta, for the reasons above. And if Rooney is brought in, it seems hard to envisage Fernando Torres staying as second fiddle. Indeed, you suspect that Mourinho would be quite happy to let him go, as well, for all the statements to the contrary. Torres' wages might be the biggest obstacle to his departure but there is no need to have four strikers on the books if you only play one up top. If Torres can't be shifted, then the suspicion is that Demba Ba would be, and far more easily. The summer question marks over David Luiz and Juan Mata have been answered pretty emphatically by Mourinho. They will stay, unless something changes radically. And neither were put into the pot when Chelsea went knocking on United's door for Rooney.

Is it a title-winning squad?

Certainly they won't finish sixth, as they did two years ago. And I can't see them not being in the top two. Mourinho has earmarked City as the team to beat, without dismissing the threats from United, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool. The Jose factor is a huge one. Get Rooney in, get off to a flier, and they will back themselves to win from the front, as they did in Mourinho's first two seasons. And what is absolutely certain is that, this season, Chelsea will finish with the same manager they started with. At least, I think so......

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