Chelsea spend for success

Vialli has called for a tougher approach from his team

Chelsea 2000/2001 preview

It has been a summer of upheaval at Stamford Bridge as Gianluca Vialli looks for the mix to deliver that elusive Premiership title.

In have come Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, for a British record £15m, Eidur Gudjohnsen for £4m and Croatian midfielder Mario Stanic for £4.6m.

Meanwhile, last summer's expensive signings, Chris Sutton and Didier Deschamps, have been ruthlessly offloaded after failing to deliver.

Manager Gianluca Vialli is well aware that his side face a massive task to bridge the gap with Manchester United.

The Blues finished a huge 26 points behind the champions last season in fifth place.

Tougher approach

Vialli has called for a tougher and more consistent approach from his charges this season.

He believes that the arrival of Hasselbaink and Gudjohnsen will greatly augment his side's chances.

  Transfers in

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Atletico Madrid), £15m

Eidur Gudjohnsen (Bolton), £4m

Mario Stanic (Parma), £4.6m

Carlo Cudicini (Castel Di Sangro), undislosed

Sebastian Kniessl (Eintracht Frankfurt), free

Christian Panucci (Inter Milan), loan

"It is always a team effort but attacking-wise we did not score enough goals last season," he said.

"We had a lot of chances but did not take them.

"'Jimbo' was a fantastic goalscorer for Leeds and he knows what it takes to be successful in England. He also speaks English.

"Eidur is only 22 but he has played very successfully in England for two seasons with Bolton. He will be one for the future."

Vialli is sure that his other major aquisition, Croatia's right-sided midfielder Mario Stanic, will add a goalscoring threat from midfield.

"I'm sure he will settle in very quickly. He is strong and powerful, so physically he should be able to cope with the English game.

"He is also very good at scoring goals, especially in the air."

Uefa Cup

The back line should be strengthened by the addition of experienced defender Christian Panucci, taken on loan from Inter Milan with a view to a permanent deal.

Fans will also be pleased with the decisions of Marcel Desailly, Gianfranco Zola and Tore Andre Flo to commit themselves to the club despite rumours of moves abroad.

Hasselbaink: Should provide needed goals

Left-back Graham Le Saux, one of the few English players in the squad, should be fit in time for the start of the season after sitting out most of the last with injury.

Chelsea's league chances should be boosted by their absence from the Champions League.

Instead they will compete in the Uefa Cup by virtue of last season's FA Cup win.

The Blues reached the quarter-finals of the premier European competition last season and their league form seemed to suffer accordingly.

They will doubtless be criticised for splashing out £24.6m during the close season, more than any other British club, but they have recouped £15m.

Sutton and Deschamps have departed along with Dan Petrescu and Mikael Forssell.

The club has also paid out the remainder of tragic Pierluigi Casiraghi's contract after accepting that his playing days are over because of injury.

The Chelsea

  Transfers out

Chris Sutton (Celtic), £6m

Didier Deschamps (Valencia), £3.7m

Dan Petrescu (Bradford), £800,000

Neil Clement (West Brom), £200,000

Mikael Forssell (Crystal Palace), loan

Pierluigi Casiraghi, retired

spine of Ed De Goey, Desailly, Dennis Wise and Hasselbaink is very impressive.

But much will depend on whether the team can match the determination, belief and togetherness of Manchester United.

Many will doubt if they can.