Chelsea cannot afford to rest in the transfer market

[Madmax 9,219]

The Premier League in the last few seasons has seen an interesting development. No side has managed to retain a league title in 6 seasons - the last club to do so was Man United way back in 2009, which was the third in a hat trick of championships starting from 2007. Evidently, getting to the top has become much easier than staying at the top - and this is what should concern Mourinho and Chelsea, the runaway nature of this season's success notwithstanding. I've put together a list of the major transfer dealings of each of the title contenders during these past 6 seasons for comparison below.

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A recurring theme here is the reigning champions either ( a ) failing to replace outgoing players or ( b ) failing to add significant quality to the title winning squad while competitors strengthen enough to dethrone them.

The concern

The concern then stems from Mourinho's statements over the past week with regards to Chelsea's activities over the summer :

I like my squad very, very much. It's a young squad with space to improve. And I'm in a different position to last season. Then, I was more than keen for my club to sell some players and in this moment I'm very, very happy to keep my players. The base last year was to sell to buy. The base this season is to keep my squad.

But we are in a good situation. We have this stability in our squad. We don't need dramatic changes. We have to be loyal to our players. We believe in them. We have a good squad.

What other clubs are going to do is not going to affect our direction. If others buy 10 players each, that will not push us to do things we're not going to do. We are stable.

Last season we had stability to analyse the needs to improve the team. This season we have stability to keep our squad, our team, but to give some extra motivation to the squad and a couple of extra options to improve.

Contrast that with Chelsea's intent at this stage last season :

We felt last season that we had a team. Not a super team but a team - fighting for the title, in the Champions League semi-final... But from mid-season we were feeling that we needed critical, surgical new players. Instead of buying seven or eight, we made a very early decision to go and attack the three points where we felt we needed a real improvement.

I have the squad I want to have, the right profile to attack the title. Arsenal, Liverpool, United and City are all signing players and Tottenham are improving. But I start the season saying we want to be champions.I don’t like not to win. I don’t like it. Finishing third last season was good, but I was not happy.We will go to win the title. We will go for that.

Now, Mourinho of course is a master manipulator when it comes to words in the press and his recent declarations could prove to be smoke and mirrors, especially with his comments likening the transfer market bubble to an impending collapse on Wall Street, but surely even he in his heart of hearts would know that Chelsea do in fact need changes, not wholesale changes, but some changes to take the next step - domestic consolidation coupled with European ascension.

Areas to target

As the season wore on it has become clear that a few more "surgical" signings in key areas is just what is needed to complete the puzzle. A ball playing centre half, a goalscoring winger to take some burden off Costa and Hazard, a central midfielder of enough quality to both complement and supplement the Matic-Fabregas duo would top most wishlists of Chelsea fans and the various transfer rumours swirling around the club confirm the general view in this regard. (Varane, Stones, Pogba, Koke, Griezmann, Bale have all been variously linked with a move to the club and they all make some sense.)

The rivals

Manchester United continue to flounder despite spending the best part of £200 million over last summer. With their Champions League status restored and a season under the collective belts of Mata, Herrera, Di Maria, Blind and Rojo, they can be expected to spend even more to push on under Van Gaal. Money is not an issue for Manchester City either, with them having proved that they're happy to pay any puny fines UEFA impose on them. The possible departure of Pellegrini and an ageing squad means there will be significant investment for whoever comes in. Arsenal are also free from their Emirates Stadium imposed shackles and are now legitimate rivals on the transfer front too.

As to what Chelsea do in the transfer market this summer remains to be seen; but you can play your part by supporting the champions on their quest to defend their silverware by purchasing Chelsea tickets here.

Conclusion

All the indicators point to it being a hard fought battle for the best available players. Chelsea cannot afford to take their eyes off the ball even though they've never been better placed to launch a concerted effort at establishing a sustained period of dominance. 2014-15 was good but next season needs to be even better, and it needs to start in the transfer market. As the saying goes, a rolling stone gathers no moss.

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[maximillion 0]

with the current squad we have and the kind of coach reigning I foresee no major obstacles in front of us standing in our way from collecting more silverware next season.

#VivaEdenHazard!

[EdenHazard 163]

Completely agree. Seen it before when teams win the League, do little business in the transfer window then fail to defend their PremierLeague title.

It's a MUST that we add to our squad this season.

[Unionjack 7,531]

I totally agree plus I would go a step further. Id also upgrade both Cahill and I might get boo'd for this one - Bane. He gets lost forward and totally forgets hes a defender. Plus as hes not the fastest it takes him ages to track back. I wouldnt mind if he just went forward on occasions but I think he scores a goal and it goes to his head. Plus hes at the yearly renewable age and if we want a team who will gel together and become dominant for awhile we need to start looking at our back 4. Id have donated my damgleys for Varane to team him and Zouma up but realize its a hard one.

Plus with what looks like some sellings/loans that Mou said wasnt going to happen if he could help it, we will have a smaller squad than we already have.

I hope Im just being a big girls blouse but Im a tad nervous.

[cosmicway 1,333]

What he says is true.
I 've seen the demise of many great teams.

On many occasions it happens when their star has to go because of age. On other occasions because they reached the limit of their budget and decline followed. Some great teams of the past lasted for two-three years, e.g. Ajax 1971-74.

We are in the second category, if we decide to do nothing.
But I think it is logical to go for a 10-15% improvement rather then spend billions of euros. I agree with Madmax's suggestions.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,075]

I too think Max is right. Of course we need strengthening and of course Jose knows it, regardless of what he feels constrained to say for public consumption. In fact I read his comments as a virtual admission that we need a raft of new recruits. Remember that in every transfer window we have been through with Jose in charge, every single one, we have signed more players than he originally said we would. This time he has spoken of us needing up to three signings and that's more than he's ever predicted before. Usually he says one, maybe two.

[Unionjack 7,531]

I too think Max is right. Of course we need strengthening and of course Jose knows it, regardless of what he feels constrained to say for public consumption. In fact I read his comments as a virtual admission that we need a raft of new recruits. Remember that in every transfer window we have been through with Jose in charge, every single one, we have signed more players than he originally said we would. This time he has spoken of us needing up to three signings and that's more than he's ever predicted before. Usually he says one, maybe two.

I hope you're blinkin right OFAG

[Tomo 21,751]

City and United (possibly Arsenal too) will spend big this summer, we must match them, we should know as much as anyone that not refreshing the squad leads to massive problems eventually and if you want to create an era of dominance you cant stand still even for one season.

I have faith we wont make the same mistake as we did in 2010 however despite winning the title comfortably we still have holes in the squad that need adressing, proactive CB, another quality CM (not as defensive as Matic but more astute than Cesc and Rami in that department), maybe an AM a striker, it will not only improve our first team but give us more quality depth of trusted players which we lacked this time.

As Cechs replacement Begovic is ideal but realistically we will probably get Ruddy or Green, defence Varane's the dream but realistically Alderwierld would be a top addition, we need a DCB than can stand on his own two feet with JT out because lets be honest the Cahill-Zouma combo has been anything but convicing in the all be it limited time theve had togetherr, CM Pogba ideally but again might have to look elsewhere, strikerr looks set to be Falcao, guess on a loan we cant lose.

Clyne/Stones and a good depth player to be extra greedy.

Basically last decade we didn't improve when we were on top, we must this time, we are heading in a very great path, but we ain't there yet.

[termninja 5,290]

I completely agree with the thread, we must not repeat the transfer dealings and approach of 2010/2011 after winning the league. We had a miserable season and God knows how we were second in the league. There s no hunger from players, no magic, no energy.. It was painful watching us.

All teams in PL will reinforce a lot and will also look to make our lives miserable.

I feel we should bring 4 players at least :

GK (Begovic)

Fullback

DM (Song, Schneiderlin)

CF (Falcao)

But then again that's just to KEEP our squad depth as Cech, Mikel, Luis and Drogba are all (almost) gone.

The names mentioned shouldn't cost that much so I feel we can also go in for another big name deal.

[Billy. 2,742]

like i have said already people need to forget about having a window like last summer with Cesc and Costa coming in, Jose will more than likely use the same 11 and sign some more squad players that he can trust. Ill be amazed if we have a massive deal this summer. Dont get me wrong i would love a massive player in the Pogba range but just dont see it. Can see us signing players in the Turan range players that will make good squad players that Jose can trust more to come on and help make a difference