Grading Chelsea's Transfer Window

Finally, it's over. The transfer window has closed—or slammed shut in some cases—and we can all breath a huge sigh of relief.

It leaves us looking forward to four months of footballing bliss before the winter transfer season kicks into action come January, bringing with it a host of posturing and innuendo as clubs look to poach players from their rivals.

It's been a long summer, too. Gareth Bale's £86 million move from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid has overshadowed any other business, but it doesn't mean clubs haven't been busy with big transfers of their own.

With Jose Mourinho back in West London, Chelsea brought in some star names, adding to an already exciting, young squad.

The Blues have spent an estimated £59.5 million between July 1 when the window opened and Sept. 2, but has it been money well spent or not? Bleacher Report runs the rule over the comings and goings at Stamford Bridge, grading Chelsea's summer of business.

 

Ins

Andre Schurrle (from Bayer Leverkusen): £18 million

Macro van Ginkel (from Vitesse Arnhem): £8 million

Samuel Eto'o (from Anzhi Makhachkala): Free

Willian (from Anzhi Makhachkala): £30 million

Mark Schwarzer (from Fulham): Free

Christian Atsu (from Porto): £3.5 million

Total: £59.5 million

From having a medical at Tottenham Hotspur to deciding to join Chelsea at the 11th hour, Willian's move to Stamford Bridge was one of the summer surprises given the attacking talent they have within their ranks.

The club strengthened considerably, though, with Andre Schurrle adding to an exciting collection of attacking midfielders, while Dutchman Marco van Ginkel looked promising in preseason playing a little further back—although he's yet to start a game this term.

Joining on a free transfer from Anzhi Makhachkala and reuniting with teammate Willian is Samuel Eto'o. At 32, it's fair to say the Cameroon striker's best days are behind him. But he will provide excellent cover for Fernando Torres and, for all the experience he adds to a young squad, already looks like good business.

Mark Schwarzer provides Petr Cech competition in goal while Christian Atsu, signed from Porto and immediately loaned to Vitesse Arnhem, is a player Chelsea expect big things from in the future.

 

Outs

Victor Moses (to Liverpool): Loan

Romelu Lukaku (to Everton): Loan

Christian Atsu (to Vitesse Arnhem): Loan

Jeffrey Bruma (to PSV Eindhoven): £2.5 million

Florent Malouda (to Trabzonspor): Free

Ross Turnbull (to Doncaster Rovers): Free

Thibaut Courtois (to Atletico Madrid): Loan

Oriol Romeu (to Valencia): Loan

Marko Marin (to Sevilla): Loan

Lucas Piazon (to Vitesse Arnehm): Loan

Total: £2.5 million

They haven't been on bringing money in, but the Blues have made the most of the loan system this summer with a number of stars leaving for temporary moves elsewhere.

Marko Marin already looks to be feeling the benefits of his loan move to Sevilla, while Romelu Lukaku will be hoping for another impressive season in the Premier League having joined Everton on transfer deadline day.

The young Belgian scored 17 goals at West Bromwich Albion last season, so a similar loan spell will mean he'll be banging on Jose Mourinho's door come the start of next season.

Thibaut Courtois returns to Atletico Madrid on loan, while Ross Turnbull and Florent Malouda were among those to permanently depart Stamford Bridge following the expiry of their contracts.

 

Who Chelsea Missed Out On

If we mention every player Chelsea were linked with this transfer window, the list will go on for ever. But the biggest targets the Blues are suggested to have seen go elsewhere include Edinson Cavani according to The Express, while The Mirror reported of Chelsea's interest in Falcao, who eventually joined Monaco.

Chelsea's pursuit of Wayne Rooney continued for much of the summer, with Manchester United turning down two bids for his services (via BBC Sport), eventually leading to the arrival of Eto'o to bolster their attacking options.

Grade: B+

It's been a productive summer for Chelsea. They've brought the Special One back to Stamford Bridge, immediately resulting in a change of atmosphere after last season's protests and angst.

Not only that, the project of recruiting some of Europe's best young players continues in earnest and the nucleus of this team we see now will remain for many years.

The only negative is they haven't strengthened significantly in defensive midfield, an area that remains a concern. Beyond Frank Lampard, Ramires and van Ginkel in any two of the deeper positions, the Blues look somewhat short of talent and, over the course of the season, that could come back to haunt them.

With Lukaku now on loan at Everton, the trio of Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto'o and Demba Ba gives them more striker options than last term, but how reliable will Eto'o's fitness be?

There are some questions hanging over the strength of this squad, which only time can answer. As we wait to find out, it's going to be a very exciting 2013-14 indeed.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout the 2013-14 season. Follow him on Twitter here @garryhayes