Who decided Yossi deal was good for Chelsea?

Last updated : 15 June 2010 By Paul Lagan

With Yossi Benayoun in the bag on a four-year deal, worth £60k a week at the expense of Joe Cole, two years younger at 28, one must wonder what is going through the head of Roman Abramovich and the Chelsea board.

No one I’ve spoken too can seem to justify this transfer on purely footballing reasons alone.

Who actually put this deal together?

Was it the football branch of the club or one of Roman's entourage having a word in the Russian's ear?

My Chelsea sources are suggesting the latter which does not bode well for team morale next season.

Of course being Premier League and FA Cup winners will ensure the team start the season in good spirits but they will also want to be convinced that Yossi's signing is something other than filling the pockets of a player who struggled to get into an ailing Liverpool side which finished seventh in the league.

What Chelsea fans need right now is to be convinced that this group of players can be improved to land the Champions League

Can Carlo Ancelotti do the business? The loss of Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, and Deco means that Chelsea must replenish their squad with a truly world-class player.

Yossi alone frankly won't do.

Fernando Torres is the player Chelsea need. A Drogba Torres striking axis would be the deadliest in Europe.

Nicolas Anelka, who is expected to sign a two-year extension after the World Cup can operate on the right or even be the linkman between midfield and attack.

That would be a mouth-watering prospect and also signal to the rest of Europe that Chelsea can still operate at the highest level.

The Blues have just one more season before Manchester City stamp themselves as the dominant force in the Premiership.

Chelsea needs to win the Champions League next season - they need Torres, they don't need Yossi.

But then again, when has signing a footballer really ever being about solely improving the squad?