Chelsea Transfer News: 4 Reasons the Blues Had a Successful Summer

Chelsea had an up and down summer. However, in the end, I think it's safe to say the Blues had a very successful one.

With a new manager, Andre Villas-Boas, Chelsea started to change its identity. While the process is not yet complete, the Blues are looking like a different team already.

Chelsea have been one of the most successful English Premier League clubs of the last five years. This summer will facilitate them in keeping up that elite status.

Signed Future Striker: Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku is the striker of Chelsea's future.

He has been dubbed the next Didier Drogba and has the size and pace to match that comparison. Once he develops better skills on the ball he could score 20-plus goals season after season.

However, Lukaku is not just a powerful forward. He is also athletic enough to play in Andre Villas-Boas' free-flowing, attacking system and is smart enough to make simple plays.

Lukaku could get a lot of time this year. Drogba will be out for a few weeks and Fernando Torres still can't find the net. As a result, Lukaku could be starting matches before November.

With time, Lukaku will become one of the biggest goal-scoring threats in the world.

Building Team for Future

Roman Abramovich is not a fool. Some people may disagree with that statement, but the Russian billionaire is a savvy owner (sometimes).

Rather than make full-scale changes in one summer, he let Andre Villas-Boas target his players, and he did the best to acquire as many of those players. Although Chelsea's major transfers were limited to Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata, they were also able to invest in some young players.

The Blues went and got Ulises Davila and Oriol Romelu, who could each become staples in the Chelsea midfield for years to come. Each of those players are creative play-makers (a Chelsea need), who can pick apart defenses.

Although it might take a while for those guys to compete consistently, they are the midfield of the future, which is something Chelsea need to be planning for.

People have been claiming that Chelsea are getting old. As that is the case, Chelsea proved this summer that they are planning for the future and they will be ready to contend for many years.

Andre Villas-Boas Has Plan

With the moves he made this summer, it is very clear that Andre Villas-Boas has a plan.

He knows his team isn't getting any younger, which is why he went and got players that make his squad younger. He knows the type of player he likes and he acquired those types of players.

Last January it seemed like Chelsea spent money simply to spend it (David Luiz made a little sense, I guess). This summer, Chelsea bought players that could actually make a difference for the club, in a distinct role.

Savvy investments in young players are key to running a good club—just look at Manchester United. As Chelsea start to improve their youth system and acquire good young players, they will start to become a deeper club that will maintain great form for the foreseeable future.

Blues Can Still Contend This Season

For all this talk of the future, it is easy to forget that Chelsea will still compete this year.

They have world-class players, a great manager and a desire to be back on top. Their work will be cut out for them, but the Blues still have the ability to compete in England and in Europe.

For the people that think the Manchester clubs will run away with the league, remember that Chelsea started out last year 6-0, 6-0, 2-0 against poor competition. The EPL doesn't appear to be too deep this year, so I'm not reading much into the recent destruction the Reds and Blues of Manchester have caused.

Yes, both of those clubs will be at the top of the table all year, but Chelsea have a chance to compete with them through the 38th match.

Chelsea have the experience to do it. As they grow accustomed to Andre Villas-Boas' system, they will start to look sharper and sharper.

It is an ongoing process for Chelsea, but they have a good enough side to win trophies this year. Just wait and see.