Having already secured the services of Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho continued his raid of the Spanish champions, confirming an agreement for left-back Filipe Luis (via the official Twitter account). He will serve as the club’s third biggest signing of the summer, having already acquired Cesc Fabregas from FC Barcelona.
Thibaut Courtois’ return from a loan spell at the Vicente Calderon provides Mourinho the holy trinity of Colchoneros at Stamford Bridge next season.
With the move, Chelsea have bolstered a side that finished third in the Premier League table (82 points) and qualified for the semifinal round of the UEFA Champions League. Mourinho’s reinforcements raised the club’s Premier League odds to 15/8 (per bet365). The reigning champions, Manchester City, are second favorites at 9/4.
The pressure is on the “Special One” to deliver a title to Stamford Bridge.
In each of his last two seasons, Mourinho has failed to capture any significant silverware, following a trophyless campaign at Real Madrid in 2012 with another at Chelsea in 2013. The additions of Fabregas, Courtois, Costa and now Luis, gives the Portuguese manager a look all to his own—one he must succeed or sink with.
Based on pre-season look and form. Below is a projected starting lineup that should feature at Stamford Bridge next season (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Luis, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Hazard, Oscar, Willian; Costa.
With such an intimidating first-choice XI, the rest of the Premier League clubs have been on notice.
Is the addition of Filipe Luis the final piece to Chelsea’s championship puzzle? Leave a comment below or tells us @SportsWN.
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