Robust Chelsea best-placed to deliver title

Chelsea’s swift transfer business, conducted early in the summer window, coupled with their perfect start to the new campaign, has given the impression of a settled club ready to regain their Premier League crown this season.

While Manchester United and Arsenal raced around on transfer deadline day looking for strikers to complete their squads, Chelsea were concentrating on trimming theirs, sending out some promising youngsters and first-team fringe players on loan.

The Blues have received a bit of criticism for allowing some talented youngsters to leave temporarily but, overall, it is safe to say that this transfer window will be viewed as a success at Stamford Bridge.

Diego Costa has settled into life in England quicker than even the most optimistic fan could have hoped and he’s already managed four goals in three games to play a big part in the 100 per cent start to the season Jose Mourinho’s side have made. Cesc Fabregas has also slipped back into life in the Premier League extremely comfortably and the former Arsenal star already looks like the man Mourinho is building his team around – the classy Spaniard a fulcrum in midfield – as he plots a much more concerted title bid than in 2013-14.

The fact that those two, along with new left-back Filipe Luis, were all signed early on in the transfer window undoubtedly eased the pressure after an underwhelming end to last season and has helped create the platform for which Chelsea have been able to build their impressive start to the new campaign on. They have flown out of the blocks and are rightly the favourites to win the league outright.

Fernando Torres’ loan exit to Milan meant a replacement striker was then required and the club wasted no time in bringing in Loic Remy from QPR. The Frenchman – another proven Premier League talent – was signed with the minimum of fuss in a deal keeping with how the summer had gone. To describe the mood as positive as Mourinho quietly, but confidently, went about his business would be an understatement.

Judging new players and a team overall after just three games is, of course, premature but the fact is Chelsea have added proven top-flight talent to their ranks and the belief is soaring at the club. While last season ended in disappointment, already in 2014-15 the Blues have an aura about them not felt since Mourinho’s first hugely successful stint in charge and the feel-good factor around the place cannot be underestimated. Wins breed wins and, while there will rightly have been concerns about the defending in the recent 6-3 win at Everton, as an attacking force Chelsea look unrivalled in the Premier League at the moment.

Mourinho made it clear plenty of times last season that his squad was not equipped to win the title, moaning, with just cause, about the lack of a natural goalscorer as missed chances regularly haunted his team in big games.

Following a very productive summer, however, and a brilliant start to the campaign, he has very little to complain about now.