Liverpool: finding a balance between signings and stability

                                                                   

Success in football is premised on different factors. While some clubs sign one or two players to improve an already existing core like Chelsea did by signing Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas last summer, others settle for a policy of signing almost an entire team in the transfer window. These are contrasting policy that several clubs have adopted in building a competitive squad ahead of a new season. While some clubs have found success through either approach, yet very few top clubs settle for signing players that runs into double figures with an element of regularity.

Liverpool have been one of the busiest clubs in this summer’s transfer window just like last season when Brendan Rodgers and the club’s transfer committee brought in a number of players largely with the money received from the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona.

In the summer of 2014, Liverpool signed the following players:

• Rickie Lambert
• Adam Lallana
• Mario Balotelli
• Alberto Moreno
• Dejan Lovren
• Lazar Markovic
• Javier Manquillo (loan)
• Emre Can
• Divock Origi (signed and loaned back to Lille)

Looking at that list, Liverpool made nine signings last season. At the end Brendan Rodgers found it difficult to build on what the team at achieved in the previous season when they nearly won the Premier League title. There was stability lacking as there was seldom any existing on field partnership in the team that could have led to a consistent run of result last season. It meant that last season started poorly for the Anfield outfit.

Although, they found their feet midway through the season when they put an unbeaten run together, they still finished the season poorly. Although the series of injury suffered by Daniel Sturridge and the fact that the now departed Raheem Sterling struggled for form meant the team was unrecognisable from the one that nearly won the league the previous season.

On the theme of partnerships and combination on the field of play, it was the partnership of Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling that almost brought the title to Anfield. With that partnership gone last season, it affected the team’s stability that the rash of signings made did little last season to bridge the gap as few if not all of them failed to find their feet in their first season at Merseyside.

With the departures of Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerard to Manchester City and Major League Soccer’s Los Angles Galaxy respectively as well as the fact that Daniel Sturridge will miss the first months of the season as he continues his recovery of his hip injury, Liverpool will again start the new season with trying to find new on field partnerships with the raft of signings they have made. So far the signings made have been close the number signed last summer. The list reads.

• James Milner
• Danny Ings
• Nathaniel Clyne
• Roberto Firmino
• Christian Benteke
• Adam Bodgan
• Joe Gomez
• Allan Rodrigues

Although, it must the said that the quality of this summer’s signings could be said to be better than the players brought in last summer, the idea that Liverpool can continue with a high turnover of signing players every summer and at the same time get the balance right between stability and signings would certainly be difficult. The issue now faced by Brendan Rodgers is to fit the new signings into a system that would suit the team.

With Rickie Lambert having signed for West Brom, and the future of Mario Balotelli still up in the air, it is already an admittance that some of the signings made last summer were a mistake with the players now be shipped out after just one season at the club.

With more players being linked to Liverpool, the possibility of more signings cannot be ruled out before the transfer window closes, especially with Barcelona winger Adama Traore being strongly linked. Yet what must be a headache to Brendan Rodgers is how to fit these players into an existing system as well as find a way to keep the players happy as several of them will not get enough playing time.

With the Northern Irishman entering his fourth season with the club this summer, he will certainly be under pressure to deliver a rewarding season this time around especially with the way last season ended when the team lost 6-1 to Stoke City on the last day of the season. They have an early opportunity of avenging that defeat when they face Stoke City on the opening weekend of the new season.

With the Steven Gerard era now confined to the vehicle of history, new on field partnerships and combinations that would breed a measure of stability is now expected to be established by Brendan Rodgers, the club has again backed him in the transfer market, and there have equally been changes to his backroom staff, yet the buck stops at his table to deliver the goods this season and find a formula that would enable the signings made to kick on.

Arsenal Strikers' Dance: A Tune of Giroud and Walcott

      

Prior to Sunday's Community Shield match between Arsenal and Chelsea, lots of debate when into who Arsene Wenger would go with in the striker's role. So when the team list came an hour before kick-off, with Theo Walcott getting the nod over Oliver Giroud, there was a measure of surprise at the manager's decision to go with the 26 years old England forward. It was the second time in a row in a space of 65 days that Arsene Wenger had opted to go with Theo Walcott in a Wembley showpiece while relegating Oliver Giroud to the bench.

Yet, despite the fact that Theo Walcott assisted the goal that Oxlade-Chamberlain scored, he did little all game, and the very fact that Arsenal could not build a sustained combination and passing pattern in the final third only goes to show the limitations of playing him as a striker. During his 65 minutes on the pitch, Theo Walcott had one shot on target, just 10 touches, he made just 5 passes, and Arsenal's forward line took just three shots when he was on the pitch.

Theo Walcott's game is premised on receiving through balls from midfield, when he runs into space. Although his presence and the fact that his pace frightens opposition defence, by preventing them to push forward, as was evidenced by John Terry and Gary Cahill's reluctance to push forward. Yet that presence in that position means Arsenal are unable to successfully execute their possession based style with an element of consistency when in the opposition half. Walcott does not have the ability to hold the ball for more than a few seconds to either relieve pressure, or allow the other players in especially Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil to come into the game.

The question is whether Theo Walcott can add something new to his game beyond just running into through balls? His near disappearance in the second half when Arsenal struggled to keep possession allowed Chelsea to build some headway as the ball seem to return immediately to the Arsenal half as there was no player who could keep the ball beyond the halfway line. The dance of the match was essentially dictated by the tune of Walcott's limitations as a striker.

However, Arsenal's struggles in the final third changed when Theo Walcott left the fray. Oliver Giroud's introduction turned the dance around, the tune of the possession changed, the combination play between Arsenal's midfielders and forward line increased. And the statistics reflects this.

Oliver Giroud had 17 touches, 3 shots, he actually made 2 clearances, something Theo Walcott never did, he made 10 passes, double what Theo Walcott made and in less than half the time.

And to cap it up, the Arsenal forward line took 8 shots during Oliver Giroud’s time on the pitch.

The dance of both strikers is very different, while Theo Walcott will offer pace and very little else, Oliver Giroud's dance offers everything else apart from pace. Yet on the balance of play, he is very instrumental to the way Arsenal plays and wants to play.

However, Arsene Wenger has pointedly laid a marker of what he intends to do in that position this season.

He remarked after Sunday's match,

"I want to use him there [Striker] as well.

It all depends on the opposition"

What Arsene Wenger has essentially said is that he would be deploying a rotation policy between Theo Walcott and Oliver Giroud depending on the opposition.

Yet, Arsenal's midfield and defence would have to be ready to work overload in most matches when Theo Walcott is deployed as a striker. Nothing much would be expected on the defensive side from him. Many would say he is there to score goals whenever he is played as a striker. But with just pace on offer from the England forward, plus little ability to keep hold of possession for a sustained period up top, it would actually look like Arsenal are playing with ten players at times.

One thing that is clear is that the team particularly Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla still have to get used to playing with Theo Walcott as a centre forward if that is the position Arsene Wenger would use him more this season. Because the two matches at Wembley which he started has seen him offer very little besides his goal and assist. Whether it is something Arsene Wenger will persist with is another factor.

No doubt, there are times Theo Walcott's deployment as a striker would definitely work a treat and it would be hailed, and there will be other moments, it would end in disappointment.

The idea of him being Arsenal's first choice centre forward would not sit well with most Gunners, because of his limitations, but if his pace becomes a fear factor for opposition defences before a match kicks off, it becomes itself a psychological edge for Arsenal, and it means no opposition team would prefer playing a high line when they face Arsenal.

With Oliver Giroud a different variant in the striker's stables, he could end up being the plan B for some matches this season if Theo Walcott as Plan A fails. But one thing that should be noted is that if Theo Walcott starts scoring consistently as a centre forward despite the fact that he offers more as a winger, it would be difficult to keep him from not playing as centre forward, yet as Arsene Wenger has stated, it will depend on the opposition at the end of the day.

Arsenal Beat Chelsea at Their Own Game

Over the years Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal have suffered at the hands of Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, but it was a different scenario on Sunday. The manner in which the victory was attained is what has elicited a rather ironic comment from the blues manager. More on that later.

Before the match itself, a lot was said regarding the fact that the match was more than a glorified friendly, with players still working their way to full fitness before the season starts in earnest. But the manner in which Mourinho shuffled and tweaked his tactics to get an equaliser in the match, showed the match meant more to him than it was portrayed.

The first tweak arrived at half time, when Loic Remy love affair with going off side was brought to an early end when he was replaced by Radamel Falcao who it must be admitted has a lot of work to do to turn his reputation around in English football after he struggled with Manchester United last season. Mourinho's last tweak saw John Terry withdrawn, with Victor Moses introduced late on in his stead, as he pushed to level the match. Oscar, Kurt Zouma all entered the fray; Cesc Fabregas was moved from his position further up the pitch earlier on to play in a deeper role. Yet Chelsea struggled to create clear cut chances, and when the few chances they created arrived Eden Hazard blazed over, while Ramires contrived to miss a point blank header from six yards in the first half.

In a fixture involving Arsenal and Chelsea, it is unusual for Chelsea to have more possession. Chelsea had 57% possession in the match, but only had two shots on target, and they were largely restricted to few chances. That Arsenal scored their only goal early on certainly aided their cause. The goal aided their plans to protect what they had while hitting Chelsea on the counter-attack, and they could and should have scored more than one goal after the chances they had late on.

If this defensive quality to protect a lead for 70 minutes was deployed by Jose Mourinho, it would have been accepted as the norm, and true to form that was what Chelsea used to get the better of most of their rivals last season even at Stamford Bridge, with the tie against Manchester United a key example.

That Arsenal opted to abandon their caviar approach by going pragmatic was a case of beating Jose Mourinho's Chelsea at an approach he has perfected over the years. And this particular obdurate display by the Gunners obviously came as shock to Jose Mourinho. He remarked after the match.

"Arsenal defended with 10 players, they put everybody in front of their own line and they had good organisation, congratulations to them. They had a couple of chances in counter attacks but we had ours in organised football. They played their game tactically and found themselves one goal in front without any reason"

It was quite ironic for the Portuguese manager to accuse his opponent of deploying ten men behind the ball, seeing that he had used it to good effect in the past, and when it has worked he has been hailed as a tactical genius, but when same tactics is used to get one over him, it becomes a case of a team parking the bus in front of their penalty area.

While nothing much can be read into the match in respect of how the season would unfold for both teams, the intensity of the match and the tackles that flew in, reflected what the match meant to the players especially for an Arsenal side that had failed to beat Chelsea under Jose Mourinho in 13 previous attempts.

Per Mertesacker was also quick to point out that the team was still really in pre-season despite the win over Chelsea.

However, from a psychological point of view, the victory can be term a huge one for the gunners as the last hurdle that remained in their struggles against the big teams was beating Mourinho's Chelsea. After wins over Manchester City and Manchester United last season in the league and FA Cup, the players have gradually broken a mental barrier that would be a platform to build on as the season unfolds in earnest.

That these victories were achieved through a pragmatic approach only goes to show a new pattern that has emerged in the way Arsene Wenger is prepared to go when it comes to certain matches.

The Community Shield on Sunday is just a modicum sub plot to the season, and come May 2016, it would have paled into insignificance as the season would be decided on other factors, Arsenal might have gotten the first scalp, but they have to build on this victory and avoid the pitfalls of last season when the win over Manchester City in last season's Community Shield proved a false dawn as they won just two of their opening nine matches after that.

A good and consistent start in the early weeks would show what Arsenal can offer this season, and as for Chelsea, they welcome Fiorentina to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday as they continue their build up to the new season.

Can Arsenal lay Mourinho's Unbeaten Jibes to rest?

                                                        

image: English FA

The curtain raiser of the English Premier League season takes place on Sunday with league champions Chelsea taking on FA Cup winners Arsenal at Wembley. With the history between both managers, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho, it has given added spice to the game. And true to this pattern, the media had sought to stoke the fire ahead of the game, but Arsene Wenger has adopted a measured approach by not giving in to what the media would ordinarily prey on. The Frenchman replying along these lines "we don't listen to what others say"

This was in response to Jose Mourinho's claims that Arsenal were trying to buy the title because of their spending over the last three years. However the enigmatic Portuguese did not stop there.

He has also been quick to remind everyone about the number of times he has gone unbeaten against Arsene Wenger. At present it stands at 13. (D6 7L) and coupled with that Arsenal have not scored against Chelsea for almost 500 minutes.

The self-styled special one claims he would have found a solution to that unbeaten run if he was the manager, asserting that West Brom’s Tony Pulis was a more difficult rival having lost to him on two occasions.

The Chelsea manager never shies away from making comments that the media keeps up and run with with an element of voracious glee. Yet, on many occasions he has been rewarded even after making such remarks prior to a match, because his teams have always delivered on the day.

Being a pragmatic manager, his first approach to a game his to set his team not to lose, a tactics that has played into Chelsea's hands on numerous occasions when they have come up against Arsenal.

Yet, the community Shield on Sunday is different in more ways than one. Although the Chelsea manager stated it is more than a friendly, the stakes for the match is high in the eyes of many because of the recent history between both clubs.

Arsenal are coming into the match after a flawless pre-season campaign, where they won their matches without conceding a goal, and it is the second season in a row they would be playing in the community shield. They defeated Manchester City 3-0 last time out.

The Arsenal squad coming into this season has been tipped for a sustained title challenge. The signing of Petr Cech has added experience to a back line that is already settled.

Arsenal and Arsene Wenger would want to avoid the pitfalls of last season where they started the season poorly despite defeating Manchester City in the Community Shield last season.

Although, Sunday's match would not have a direct bearing on the destination of the title, it could however aid in breaking a mental block that has stopped Arsenal from beating Chelsea under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho.

The fact that it is a neutral ground and no advantage so to speak to either teams, should make the game a less territorial affair.

With the nature of the game, and the fact that it attracts more than the normal substitutions allowed, it takes the feel of a friendly match.

Yet, such a match only means nothing to the team that lose at the end of the day, whoever wins will get the opportunity of lifting a trophy, and a confidence boost ahead of the new season.

It will be the 14th game between Arsenal and Chelsea have contested under both managers, and the second time both managers would be meeting in the Community Shield since 2005 when Arsenal lost to Chelsea.

In the end, every unbeaten run eventually comes to end, and after what has gone before the game, it should be an interesting match.

Possible Line Up:

Arsenal:

Petr Cech, Mathieu Debuchy, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Oliver Giroud.

Chelsea:

Courtois, Branisav Ivanonic, John Terry, Gary Cahill, Caesar Azpilicueta, Nemanja Matic, Ramires, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, William, Diego Costa

Does Theo Walcott's New Contract ends the Saga?

Arsenal's longest serving player Theo Walcott finally signed a four year contract extension on Friday reportedly worth £140,000 a week.

However, his signing of a new contract should have put an end to this long drawn contract saga. Yet many of the Arsenal faithful are not convinced by the new wages that the new deal comes with.

The history of the player and how he has handled his contract negotiations with the club in the past means many are not convinced that he is worthy of the new wages. Many would have no qualms with players like Alexis Sanchez being on such a contract, because of his work rate and ability on the football pitch. But several Gunners have been left frustrated by a Theo Walcott who strolls most times on the pitch, neglecting his defensive duties, a player whose contribution to the club's famed combination play is also on the low side. And his pass completion rate not different either. While his attempted passes makes for grim reading also.

However, his present shortcomings as a player is something he can truly work on as his last injury seem to exacerbate whatever shortcomings there is to his game. Least it forgotten, it was when he was trying to make a tackle on Danny Rose in the FA Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur in January, 2014 that he sustained his cruciate ligament injury. The Walcott that led the line on that fate day certainly did not shrink from his defensive responsibilities. And it remains one of his best performance as a striker despite not scoring, but for his all round play.

The 26 year old has essentially been known as a speed merchant, and over the years at Arsenal, he has honed and perfected his skills of being adept at making intelligent movement off the ball that has yielded huge amount of goals. An attribute Arsene Wenger has pointed out as being one of his best.

While the misgivings about the terms of this latest contract are tied down to both his on and off pitch persona in recent times, because of the way he has proved to be difficult player to deal with when it gets to a contract extension as well as the fact that he has not matched his wages consistently on the field of play because of his injury record. It still holds much to the fact that apart from his goals, he does not do enough to help the team on the defensive side, something many Arsenal fans would want to change as he enters a pivotal time in his stay at the club.

While criticism have continued to be aimed at the player for his shortcomings and link up play with other players, his natural shortcomings as a player with limited technical ability, does not mean that he cannot help in defence. As much as he has been criticised for his lack of defensive awareness, the manager still has a responsibility to remind him of his defensive responsibility as a player to aid the team’s cause.

The Saints youth product has developed skills for getting huge contracts despite his limited football ability, the onus is on Arsene Wenger to also develop a specific skill tailored for Theo Walcott that his responsibility does not end at scoring goals, but he should also defend when the team is without the ball. 

This new contract means there would be intense scrutiny of how he performs in the coming season. And despite the fact that he is one of the most clinical finishers at Arsenal, a lot would depend on the position Arsene Wenger would field him in the coming season.

Already in the matches in pre-season, he has featured as a striker, which is a continuation of where he stopped last season against West Brom in the Premier League and Aston Villa in the FA Cup. 

His limitations as an out-an-out striker was reflected by the fact that his goal in the FA Cup final came when Arsene Wenger moved him to the left and Alexis Sanchez was moved to the centre.

He might be clinical in front of goal, yet his lack of tenacity and physicality means he would always struggle as a striker.

Although, the new contract should have been greeted with ecstasy, the announcement quickly turned into indifference as a result of the terms. But would those terms be remembered as not deserved if his goals become key to Arsenal achieving something great in the coming season?  Many would be quick to say he has repaid the fans and the club.

As a result of the scrutiny he is expected to go through this season where he would repeatedly be reminded of his huge contract whenever he performs poorly, this saga would run for sometime mainly in the sub conscious.

The main contract saga ended on Friday with a new contract extension, but attention shifts to how he replicates the new deal on the pitch. And that would be the new saga not between him and the club, but between him and the fans.

Walcott and Cazorla Signs New Contracts

Arsenal on Friday announced that Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla have signed new deals at the club. Theo Walcott has signed a four year extension to his current deal.

The 26 year old is currently Arsenal's longest serving player having arrived at the club in January 2006, making over 300 appearances with 76 goals to his name.

After what has developed into something akin to a contract saga his signing of a new contract will come as a boost to the club ahead of the new season.

While Theo Walcott's new contract will be well received by the Gunners faithful, it is Santi Cazorla's announcement that would have come as a surprise. Like Walcott, the ambidextrous Spaniard was entering the final year of his contract, and he has been linked several times to a return to Spain with Altetico Madrid a possible destination.

The 30 year old arrived at Arsenal in 2012 from Malaga. And after reinventing himself as a deep lying midfielder last season alongside Francis Coquelin, he would now be looking to build on what was a huge season on a personal level.

What this means to Arsenal?

For several years, Arsenal have struggled to keep the core of its players. With key players like Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Gael Clichy jumping ship in search of silverware in the last couple of years, but with the change in the financial landscape at the club, Arsene Wenger can now easily grant contract extensions to players while readily offering them terms that would suit their status vis-à-vis what they have offered the club. Besides that, the club can now win silverware evidenced by two consecutive FA Cup triumphs.

Also players like Aaron Ramsey, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Francis Coquelin and Oliver Giroud are just a few who have signed new contract extension in the last couple of seasons.

The club can now pursue a sustained policy of stability by building on what has been achieved off the pitch, on the pitch. With the current squad, the team is primed to put together a sustained title challenge.

Santi Cazorla has consistently proved himself since he arrived at the club in 2012. Whereas, Theo Walcott's time at the club has been blighted several times by injury, his last contract extension signed in January 2013 did not benefit the club, as he spent much of the time injured. He only returned fully into the squad in the second half of last season. With this new contract taking him well into his 29th birthday, the onus is now on him to prove his true worth to Arsenal by first staying fit, and secondly by scoring goals. Many would also want to see a Theo Walcott that will add some defensive side to his game by working hard for the team's cause when he is played on the wing.

With most of his appearance in pre-season coming as an out-out striker, it would be interesting to see whether Arsene Wenger sticks with that formula during the course of the coming season, especially with its attendant risks against certain opponents.

In the end, it is a win-win situation for Arsenal as they have successfully secured the future of two key players. Santi Cazorla would now be expected to play well into thirties at the club presumably in his new found deep midfield position.

For Arsene Wenger, and Arsenal it is boost for the new season.

EPL high Spenders: Jose Mourinho's Paradox

The new season of the English Premier League starts on August 8 and ahead of the opener is the curtain raiser between Arsenal and Chelsea in the Community Shield on Sunday.

However, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has started his mind games ahead of the new season. The Portuguese had earlier claimed that the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool were trying to buy the title with their spending spree. No sooner had the dust settled on that comment, that he added Arsenal to that list. Claiming that the notion that Arsene Wenger does not spend is untrue and requested that a calculator be used to show the amount Arsenal have spent in the last three years. He was quick to mention the monies spent in signing Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Calum Chambers, Mathieu Debuchy, and most recently Petr Cech.

That Arsenal have spent in excess of £100 million in transfers since 2013 is not in dispute, but what has led to the financial shackles to be lifted is what many of hypocritical linings have failed to acknowledged.

The North Londoners only recently regained their spending touch after years of penny pinching; whereas, Chelsea have been high spenders for the last decade.

The Chelsea manager is obviously uncomfortable with how the financial landscape has changed. Previously, he was the only manager that could afford to spend big on any player during his first spell in England, when Chelsea gleefully distorted the transfer market with huge transfer fees and wages. Since the Oligarch, Roman Abramovich became Chelsea's owner in 2003; the club has spent over £900 million in transfer fees. Fees that even a calculator would find difficult to collate.

Jose Mourinho has a philosophy of been a manager that spends big on players wherever he has managed. And he does not stop at throwing his tramps anytime there is a lack of spending as reported by sections of the media a couple of weeks ago.

While Arsenal were hindered by a Stadium move for a decade which resulted in financial austerity a situation that was best reflected in the club's inability to raise two million pounds to sign Robin van Persie in January 2004, which meant he had to wait for another six months before he was signed.

Arsene Wenger was a willing spender during his early years as Arsenal manager. He signed the likes of Robert Pires, Jen Lehmann, Thierry Henry, Sylvain Wiltord, Gilberto Silva and Edu. Henry and Wiltord arrived with a combined fee of £22 million in 1999 and 2001.

However, the austerity years meant Arsene Wenger had to call on his developmental attributes to bring through young players while Chelsea were spending large sums on the likes of William Carvalho, Ferreira, Micheal Essien, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Mateza Kezma, Didier Drogba, Damian Duff, Scott Parker and Arjen Robben.

Mourinho signed both the players he needed and those he did not need as he spent unreservedly with no restriction in place.

Even in the absence of Jose Mourinho as Chelsea's manager, the club still maintained their huge spending as reflected by the combined £74 million to sign Fernando Torres and David Luiz in January 2011, with the former accounting for £50 million.

The restrictions imposed by UEFA's Financial Fair play (FFP) rule and the English FA's homegrown quota has not stopped Chelsea from being high spenders. The only difference is that they now sell before buying, by dispatching players they do not need on huge transfer fees, players they initially bought with a high price.

Signed---------------Sold (£)

David Luiz----24m/48m

Romelu Lukaku--18m/28m

Andre Schurrle--18m/25m

Kevin De Bruyne--14m/26m

Ironically it is the strategy that Arsene Wenger used for several years when he signed players for small amounts, but sold them on huge profits, like Nicolas Anelka that was signed for £500,000 but sold for £22 million in 1999 after two years.

The only difference here is that Chelsea signs and sells on huge transfer fees.

Jose Mourinho will not miss any opportunity to get at a rival, and for several months he has aimed jibes Arsenal's way, apparently, he feels Arsenal could be closest to any team to challenge Chelsea to the title in the coming season.

When a manager regularly talks of a rival, it is an acknowledgment of the fact that such a rival is a threat.

The spending talk is a way to put pressure on his rivals while diverting attention from the lack of spending at Stamford Bridge to date. A situation, if it does not change before the transfer window closes, would become a regular reference point Jose Mourinho would use throughout the coming season.

In the end, there is actually no club that does not spend, but some are high spenders than others. And Chelsea bears the touch as one of the highest spender's with their activity over the last decade.