Chelsea's sporting director Frank Arnesen has defended the capture of Fernando Torres, saying it does not stop the club producing its own talent.Spanish striker Torres, 26, signed from Liverpool for ?50m on 31 January, the same day that English forward Daniel Sturridge moved to Bolton on loan.
But Arnesen, who has been previously responsible for the club's academy said: "[Torres signing] is fantastic.
"Bringing players in doesn't close the door for the others."
The Dane, who has been at the club since joining from Tottenham in 2005 and will leave his post at the end of the season, added: "We have to make sure the other boys are good enough when the time is right.
"And for me there is no doubt about it. Torres will give them inspiration.
"If you can get Torres in, a European champion, a world champion, one of the best strikers in the world, if he comes to the club everybody is happy."
Chelsea have been criticised for spending huge sums on players rather than producing new players through the club's academy, which is one of the best facilities in the Premier League.
Captain John Terry is the last significant player to come through the club's ranks but Chelsea fans have been buoyed by the emergence of 17-year-old midfielder Josh McEachran, who has made 14 appearances this season, albeit 11 as a substitute.
Sturridge, 21, has failed to make a telling impression on the Chelsea first team since his move from Manchester City in 2009.
Since joining Bolton, where he will stay until the end of the season, he has scored two goals in two games.
In addition to signing Torres on transfer deadline day, Chelsea also paid Benfica about ?21m for Brazilian defender David Luiz.
But Arnesen, who became sporting director in July last year to help first-team boss Carol Ancelotti, said the signing would prove beneficial for academy players too.
"David Luiz is one of the biggest talents in Europe, maybe the world, as a defender," Arnesen told BBC Radio 5 live. "With him coming to the club you can learn and play with him, it is only a gift and only a plus for all the younger players.
"You can feel it already with the younger players - they are buzzing. 'Oh I can maybe train with Torres', which they have done with Drogba. They have known Drogba for seven years but it's the same.
"Young players need to have examples and stars and this is the good thing in Chelsea because we have stars and all the young players are fortunate that they can learn from them. So I only see that as a plus."
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport