Mourinho: Chelsea are now done in the transfer market for this year

While many of us wish for at least one more major Chelsea signing this summer -- a certain Potentially Outrageous Golden Boy Acquisition, if you know what I mean -- and Chelsea continue to be linked with various targets, including Sami Khedira, Jose Mourinho has closed the books on Chelsea's activites in the market for this transfer window.

"I have to say my club did a fantastic job, and not just becaue of what we bought, but because we did it in almost record time. The transfer market closes 31 August and we close our market on July 19. We finished the market today."

"The club did fantastic, we knew the targets, we knew the players and the club attacked them and their clubs at a very early stage.  We got exactly what we need and what we want. The squad is one which I like very much and I look forward to starting the season."

"I dont think so (sign any more players). The market is open, but we are so happy with what we have.  We feel that our squad is what we want.  We don't want a squad of only end products. We also want to bring to the first team, three or four under-21s, we are going to develop players and are happy with this balance we have."

-Jose Mourinho; source: Mail

Nice to hear that last bit, even if the plans to bring some of our exciting youth prospects to the first-team team might not pass muster in the real world of competing at the top level of the game.

Of course, rule number one is that The Doctor lies.  Plus, Mourinho isn't in charge of Chelsea's transfer activities, as he points out above.  Nor does this rule out selling anybody or even potentially buying to fill gaps created by any sales. Things can and often do change in football very quickly.

Still, with Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa, and Filipe Luis, Chelsea have strengthened (if perhaps not the most ideally) across almost all positions.  Add in Thibaut Courtois, a healthy Marco van Ginkel and perhaps even Oriol Romeu, and we are looking pretty good.  Well, minus any proven, top class midfield help for Nemanja Matic, but apparently we're ready to trust Ramires with that role once again.  Let's hope that works out a bit better than it has so far.