CHELSEA landed in America on Thursday, with new signings Ross Turnbull and Daniel Sturridge, while new signing Yuri Zhirkov will join up with the squad on a later date, and most importantly John Terry was with them.
However the short list of new signings doesn't fill me with much optimism going into the new campaign.
A side which only managed a 3rd place finish last year, needs new signings, fresh legs and new talent
Chelsea have players like Michael Ballack, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka all over 30.
This is a side who needs some younger talent to come in to learn from and replace the older heads in the team, and seeing as the club doesn't seem to have much faith in the reserve or academy teams, Roman Abramovich needs to get his cheque book out a few more times.
I have always criticised Chelsea's transfer policies.
When Roman took charge we brought any player who put in a good performance against us, most notably Scott Parker.
Then when he had spent nearly £300m, he realised that this couldn't go on forever.
The signings slowed down until a point where Jose Mourinho signed Claudio Pizarro, Ballack and Steve Sidwell - all free transfers.
How much Claudio Ranieri, Mourinho and Luiz Felipe Scolari had to say about signings is questionable, certainly temporary managers Avram Grant and Guus Hiddink wouldn't have had any say in any signings during their reign. That was left to chief executive Peter Kenyon, seen as a smart transfer market man to pick the best players for the squad.
A club's policy should always be, a manager says he needs a player to strengthen a position, he tells the club the player he wants and if they can the club bring that player to the club, they do, without questioning the managers decisions.
But that doesn't seem to be how billionaires go about their business. I don't think Mark Hughes or Manuel Pellegrini are the ones asking for Carlos Tevez, Kaka and Christiano Ronaldo.
They are simply being brought to the club above their heads, and the manager is left to fit all these players in the squad, then getting sacked at the first sign of trouble.
Chelsea's most recent signings have been a shocking pieces of business. Already mentioned are Pizarro and Sidwell. Add to that list £30m man Andriy Shevchenko, Ballack, and not to mention being sold a dummy by Barcelona, being sold Deco, instead of trying to sign the world's best midfielder at the moment Andres Iniesta.
New Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti needs to take control of the transfer dealing, telling recently installed director of football Frank Arnesen exactly who he wants to sign, Alexandre Pato and Andrea Pirlo the two he looks more interested in signing.
I think Chelsea should be looking to sign Mark Noble (West Ham), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham), Sergio Agueiro (Athletico. Madrid) and David Villa (Valencia)
RUMOURS! Round Up:
Frank Arnesen will have a chance to show he is capable of taking over Peter Kenyon's role at the club by persuading Zlatan Ibrahimovic that his future is in west London.
Peter Kenyon will move to Manchester City, trying to take John Terry with him.
Newcastle's Steven Taylor will be John Terry's replacement if he hands in a transfer request to join Manchester City.
Pato will cost £40million to persuade cash stricken AC Milan to let go of the Brazilian striker.
Aston Villa will be willing to let Ashley Young leave if they receive a bid in excess of £20m pounds, having recently signed Stewart Downing, and are on the verge of completing a move for Spurs' Darren Bent.
Chelsea are willing to splash out a cool £32m to bring former United striker Diego Forlan back to England.
Mirko Vucinic will cost Chelsea £20m from Roma.
Chelsea will make a last minute bid to snatch Emmanuel Adebayor from under Man City's Noses. The striker is still waiting for AC Milan to table an over, but would move to Chelsea to play Champions League Football.
What do you think of Dean's views and possible transfer targets?
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Dean Mears