Chelsea Transfer News: Assessing the Blues' Summer Signings

According to the Premier League's official website, Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side have made six first-team additions to their squad this summer.

Many, though, would also choose to add Chilean Cristian Cuevas to that list—with the 18-year-old a first-team squad member on-loan with Eredivisie side Vitesse—taking the overall total to seven new additions over the past three months.

Just how well have the club acted in the transfer market, though? Has the significant money outlaid been spent as wisely as it could have been?

Let's look at the seven new additions to the ranks at Cobham this summer.

Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen)

The arrival of Germany forward Schurrle was the first piece of business confirmed by the club in early June and, thus far, he seems to have settled well at Stamford Bridge.

In the opening games of the season, Schurrle has been a regular for Mourinho's side, retaining a place in the first team at the expense of 2012-13 Player of the Year Juan Mata. Whether the arrival of Brazilian Willian will affect his status within the side, though, remains to be seen.

Given the departure of Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku on loan to Everton, it may well be that Schurrle is seen in a centre-forward role on a more regular basis moving forward, but for now, he seems set to feature predominantly from a wide forward position.

Given his age and potential, he would appear to be a good long-term signing for the club.

Marco van Ginkel (Vitesse)

It is unlikely that Van Ginkel will feature regularly for Chelsea in his first season, but if he can show half the quality he displayed in the Eredivisie last campaign—where he scored eight goals from midfield, Chelsea will have a bargain.

The 20-year-old Netherlands international is one of the most highly rated box-to-box midfielders in Europe and, with Frank Lampard approaching the end of his career, the Blues have acted quickly to find a replacement.

A specialist at arriving late in the area, Van Ginkel is a good finisher and possesses great stamina from midfield areas. If he can get enough playing time to justify remaining at the club in the short term, he should prove a valuable addition.

Willian (Anzhi Makhachkala)

Brazilian attacking midfielder was a shock purchase by Chelsea in the final weeks of the transfer window, as the Blues moved stealthily to seal his capture ahead of Tottenham Hotspur.

Willian had already undertaken a medical examination at White Hart Lane by the time the West London side moved for his services, but Chelsea were bold in their actions and persuaded him to change his plans at short notice.

Given the rumoured £32 million transfer fee, as reported by  David Kent of the Daily Mail, it would seem likely that the former Shakhtar man has been lined up for a first-team role at the club. Alongside Eden Hazard and Oscar in attacking midfield, he should add an extra dimension to the Chelsea attack.

Whether he was really needed, given the presence of Schurrle, Mata and Kevin De Bruyne, though, is highly debatable.

Samuel Eto'o (Anzhi Makhachkala)

The capture of Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o was an unexpected move by Mourinho in the closing days of the transfer window, allowing for the deadline-day loan departure of young star Lukaku.

Eto'o played under the Portuguese manager during his time with Internazionale in Italy, where he helped the club win a famous Champions League title in 2009-10.

One of the most deadly finishers of recent times, Eto'o may now be 32, but he has shown during his time in Russia that he remains a potent threat—scoring 23 goals in 47 games. Besides that, he has also added a creative element to his game.

Eto'o should help ease pressure on Fernando Torres and could easily replace the Spaniard in the starting lineup, with a good run of form. An excellent, low-cost capture.

Mark Schwarzer (Fulham)

He may have turned 40 this summer, but Schwarzer is not hanging up his gloves yet. The Socceroos 'keeper joined on a free and is set to take his place in the side for Chelsea's cup fixtures.

Cristian Cuevas (O'Higgins)

Versatile youngster Cuevas was a member of the Chile Under-20 side that impressed in both January's South American Youth Championship and this summer's Under-20 World Cup, but he will continue his development on loan at Vitesse.

Christian Atsu (Porto)

Ghanaian left-winger Atsu, 21, was Chelsea's final signing of the summer, joining for an undisclosed fee from Porto. Immediately sent out on loan to Eredivisie side Vitesse, Atsu is seen as one for the future.