Ranking Chelsea's 2014/15 Transfer Window Signings on Last Season's Efforts

Chelsea's transfer dealings this past year were well publicised.

The captures of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas went a long way toward Jose Mourinho's team ending the 2014/15 season as Premier League champions.

As Mourinho plots to bring in more players to bolster what he already has at Stamford Bridge, we thought we'd cast our minds back to last season and recall the business Chelsea did during the transfer windows.

It was an exciting summer, with six new signings arriving in west London: Filipe Luis, Loic Remy, Didier Drogba and Mario Pasalic all joining Costa and Fabregas in SW6. In the winter window, Juan Cuadrado made the move from Fiorentina.

But who was the best?

Pasalic spent the season on loan at Elche, so it would be unfair to rank his efforts during 2014/15.

Added to that, Thibaut Courtois and Kurt Zouma were new additions to Jose Mourinho's squad, but they had been purchased in transfer windows preceding the 2014/15 season so don't feature, either.

With the particulars out of the way, join us as we rank Chelsea's 2014/15 transfer window signings.

6. Juan Cuadrado

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Where do we start with Juan Cuadrado?

The Colombian joined Chelsea from Fiorentina in February and failed at everything he was supposed to do.

The only thing Cuadrado succeeded at was making Chelsea weaker.

Cuadrado didn't replace Andre Schurrle, he didn't challenge Willian for a place on the right side of midfield, he didn't contribute anything to Chelsea's Premier League success and he didn't deserve the Capital One Cup winner's medal he picked up in March.

Instead, his presence alone meant Jose Mourinho was a player shy on the bench, and it was clear the manager didn't have the same faith in him that he does in the rest of his squad.

Cuadrado's first six months at Chelsea were a complete disaster, and he has it all to do if he is going to turn things around in 2015/16.

There's always a chance things will improve and look more positive, but the early signs aren't good.

5. Filipe Luis

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Given his reputation as being among the world's finest left-backs, Filipe Luis' debut season at Chelsea was largely underwhelming.

The Brazilian didn't really put a foot wrong whenever he featured, but Chelsea fans were expecting more. Much more.

Luis was supposed to be Ashley Cole's long-term replacement, yet he struggled to dislodge Cesar Azpilicueta from the starting lineup.

It says a lot about Azpilicueta that, as a right-back playing out of position, Jose Mourinho remains eager to feature him as a first choice in the back four.

Should Luis remain at Stamford Bridge beyond this summer, he needs to improve considerably, otherwise he'll be playing the bit-part role for another 12 months.

He hasn't been a flop by any stretch, but Luis hasn't delivered in the way many would have hoped.

4. Loic Remy

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Had it not been for injury, the indications are that Loic Remy would have enjoyed a far more productive debut season at Chelsea.

That's not to suggest the Frenchman didn't have a positive impact, but with nine goals to his name, there's a sense that Remy could have done more.

Fortune didn't always favour Remy in 2014/15. He suffered a groin strain in October that kept him sidelined at a crucial stage of the campaign when Diego Costa was still struggling with his hamstrings.

And as the season drew to a close, it was a calf strain that curtailed his impact—again coming at a time when he was needed, given Costa's own injury problems.

Remy did score some vital goals, however. His strikes against Hull City and Stoke City in late March and early April respectively gave Chelsea six massive points to help stave off a resurgent Arsenal in the title race.

He impressed, but the report card suggests he can do more.

3. Didier Drogba

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Didier Drogba was a veteran last season, but he didn't always look like one.

Turning 37 years old during the campaign, we were never going to witness the same Drogba who delivered Chelsea the Champions League in 2012.

Yet as a free signing from Galatasaray, he proved excellent value.

When Diego Costa was joined on the sidelines by Loic Remy, Drogba played with all the authority Chelsea needed him to.

Making 40 appearances in total was far more than anybody expected from him.

Drogba scored just once for Chelsea after the turn of the year, but his six goals in the first half of 2014/15 were pivotal in Chelsea's season—notably his header in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United, while he got his team out of a sticky situation against Shrewsbury Town in the League Cup.

Come the end of the season, it was clear Drogba couldn't be the same player he once was, but we shouldn't let that take away from the role he played over the course of the campaign.

2. Diego Costa

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Scoring 20 goals in your debut season at a club is no mean feat.

And like we've already discussed with Loic Remy, we can be almost certain that figure would he higher had Costa not struggled so much with injury.

Chelsea finally have a goalscorer at the club again.

Jose Mourinho built his first Chelsea team around Didier Drogba, and Costa showed the Portuguese manager he can do that with him.

When fit, the Spain international is sure thing in front of goal.

It was when his injury crisis struck that we saw Chelsea's effectiveness in attack reduce.

With Costa leading the line, Chelsea were pummeling teams. He was the Premier League's biggest threat, and few defences could handle him.

Costa gave Chelsea real presence and was a big reason behind their winning the title.

1. Cesc Fabregas

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Cesc Fabregas has to be the signing of the 2014/15 season, doesn't he?

Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal ran him close, but the impact Fabregas made at Stamford Bridge was impressive.

The ex-Barcelona midfielder completely changed the way Chelsea played, bringing a more dynamic approach that allowed Jose Mourinho's side to get moving from the back and attack teams quicker.

With Fabregas in the team, Chelsea became ruthless in attack, and there was little the opposition could do to contain them at times.

Twenty-two assists in all competitions is a phenomenal statistic, and one that outlines what an impression he made.

Come the end of the season, Chelsea fans were singing about Fabregas and his magic hat.

Whatever it was he was wearing or doing, it certainly worked for him.