Chelsea’s Costa capture and Fabregas flair give them title edge

Costa has a big reputation and price tag to live up to, but is just 11/2 to be Premier League top scorer this season. He will not want for supply, both centrally from creative forces Fabregas and Oscar, and especially down the left flank with old Atletico teammate Filipe Luis overlapping Eden Hazard.

Didier Drogba’s return to the Bridge, at the expense of Demba Ba, Samuel Eto’o and Romelu Lukaku, certainly adds something in attack both on and off the field. A fans’ favourite, Mourinho’s intention here is a mentor for Costa, who will relish the physical aspects of Premier League football anyway.

Who will play in goal? Old faithful Petr Cech and brilliant Belgium number one Thibaut Courtois are set for a big battle for whom gets the nods between the sticks. Mourinho dropped Iker Casillas at Real Madrid around a similar age, but that may have been more about Bernabeu dressing room politics than anything else.

Courtois clearly impressed in a title-winning team at Atletico that kept more clean sheets than anyone else. If he ousts Cech, then that will just be two changes to the Blues’ back five from last term. That apart, expect continuity aplenty from Chelsea, although David Luiz was sold to PSG.

Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry and Gary Cahill remain resolute defenders. French man mountain Kurt Zouma, signed up from St-Etienne in January, remains one for the future, while Nathan Ake could get similarly limited first-team exposure. Cesar Azpilicueta, meanwhile, may have to accept a chop and change policy during his third campaign in west London.

Nemanja Matic looks set to join Fabregas in midfield as anchor, meaning Ramires and John Obi Mikel slip down the pecking order. Don’t forget about Marco van Ginkel either, who spent so much of last season sidelined by a serious knee injury. Ahead of them are abundant advanced options.

Willian, Andre Schurrle, Mohamed Salah and Victor Moses are realistically competing for a single spot wide right, though there is always an element of pragmatism in Mourinho team selections. Fernando Torres, meanwhile, looks like being a substitute at best.

The strength in depth, apart from a select few elite European clubs, is frightening then, and directs us towards trophy specials. How many can the ‘Special One’ bring to Chelsea this term after missing out on all fronts last term? Odds of 10/1 say Mourinho can bag the Blues a European trophy this season, and collect the only honour eluding him from across his two spells at the club.