Why Chelsea Struck the Perfect Balance in January Transfer Window

They did it last year, and when the January transfer window closed for 2015, Chelsea were left patting themselves on the back once again.

It was a job well done for Jose Mourinho and the Chelsea board, as they again bucked the trend with some exciting business in the winter.

It's not the done thing to significantly strengthen midway through a season, yet Chelsea continue to find ways to keep themselves ahead of the chasing pack.

In 2014, it was the signings of Nemanja Matic and Kurt Zouma that did it for them, in the process offloading fringe players Juan Mata and Kevin De Bruyne for just shy of a combined £60 million.

This year, Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah were taken off the wage bill and replaced by Juan Cuadrado.

When we think of balance at football clubs it's often the playing staff that springs to mind. Does a club have enough cover at right-back? Are there sufficient numbers in attack?

It's a little different at Chelsea these days.

There's a balance to Mourinho's squad, but equally important is how the accounts are looking.

Financial fair play has meant Chelsea have been forced into revising their strategy in recent seasons. The marquee signings have still arrived, but bodies have needed to be shipped out in order to finance them.

Allowing Schurrle and Salah to depart when they did, Chelsea have continued that process.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Salah's Chelsea career never really took off. The Egyptian looked far removed from the player who had caused Chelsea problems in the four matches he played against them in the Europa League and Champions League for FC Basel.

He had become a drain on the club, pulling a significant salary for very little. Salah had basically become an expensive cheerleader, seen more in the stands supporting the team than he was playing.

In terms of back up, he offered very little, and it was clear Mourinho had lost faith in his ability to produce when needed.

Schurrle, on the other hand, remains a talent. He's a player who will always be known for his exploits at the 2014 World Cup, providing the assist that won Germany the trophy.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

What he had become known for in more recent times, however, was his worrying lack of form. From October through to January, Schurrle lost all sense of direction.

His use to Mourinho had become zero.

With that, his sell-on value was depreciating rapidly, and Chelsea were right to cash in when they did. It was either take the money now or risk losing it in the summer.

Whether Cuadrado is the right man to replace Schurrle remains to be seen, but what isn't up for debate is the business sense that saw Chelsea receive the money they did for him.

Indeed, Wolfsburg seem to be financing the Blues these days. They paid Chelsea £21 million for De Bruyne last year, following that investment up with a further £24 million for Schurrle.

That's a tidy sum for players who were on the periphery, far from guaranteed starters or essential to the manager's plans.

When clubs are being offered such figures, they can't turn them down. Every player has a value; every player is dispensable.

Chelsea's business dealings are proof of that, but they're using it to their benefit.

The money from De Bruyne and Schurrle has been reinvested and, importantly, the club made a significant profit on the two players.

De Bruyne was a £7 million signing from Genk in 2012. Schurrle arrived 18 months later for £18 million.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Those players resemble the financial balancing act the club is playing, all the while strengthening their team.

The full impact of Chelsea's January 2014 transfer dealings are only beginning to be felt now with the emergence of Zouma in central defence.

Mourinho used that window effectively to plan for the future, and now he has Cuadrado in the ranks—a player who we'll see the best of come August when he has settled properly in England.

While others stutter and take time to make decisions, Chelsea are acting now, making the deals that are important to their continued progress.

And in January 2015, they struck the perfect balance in more ways than one.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes