Every Day Is Zlatan Day

Chelsea have been pretty busy this transfer window. While their squad was pretty good last year, Jose Mourinho decided that he wanted more.

After selling Brazilian defender – which is a stretch – and probable Sideshow Bob impersonator David Luiz for 50 million pounds (easily the best piece of business this summer, by the way), he has raided the Spanish clubs for loads and loads of talent.

The biggest “victim” of Jose’s spending spree is Atletico Madrid. Aside from bringing back Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois, he has also snagged Brazilian left back Felipe Luis and striker Diego Costa, who probably isn’t wanted by his home country of Brazil or his adopted country of Spain. (Dude had a bad World Cup, but it wasn’t his fault.)

According to the press, Jose also wants Brazilian centre back Joao Miranda from Atletico Madrid.

Not content with sapping the Vicente Calderon outfit of all their players, Mourinho also bought crowd favorite Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona. With those signings, the Chelsea team looks like a good bet to conquer Europe.

Chelsea’s business this season has vaulted them into Premier League favorites as well. I’d argue that anything less than a league title would be a disappointment for them. Manchester City is always a threat, but I have a feeling the higher ups would like Manuel Pelligrini to focus on Europe. Manchester United have made a big signing on the bench, bringing in the most arrogant man in the world, Louis Van Gaal, to help restore some of the glory that former manager David Moyes completely destroyed in ten months. (I’d argue that their management is equally to blame, not having signed a central midfielder since 2008, but it’s not as compelling as David Moyes shit the bed.)

Arsenal are still Arsenal, and they will probably mount a challenge until their plethora of signings (Alexis Sanchez, Matthieu Debuchy, whatever defensive midfielder they settle on between Sami Khdeira, Morgan Schneiderlin, or William Carvalho) break down in the middle of February.

Luis Suarez left Merseyside for the greener pastures and beaches of Barcelona, and Brendan Rodgers has responded to that by trying to buy every central attacking midfielder in the world (and Southampton). They still need to strengthen their defense, ideally by bringing in a competent defensive midfielder to shoulder the load when Gerrard slips again, and regression to the mean and losing the most destructive offensive force the Premier League has seen in five years says they probably won’t score 100 goals again.

This leaves Chelsea as prohibitive favorites, and unless something wonderful or catastrophic happens, I see Jose Mourinho being fantastic and winning himself a few trophies this year.

It’s been a while.