No one could accuse Chelsea owner Todd Boehly of not backing new manager Enzo Maresca in the transfer market this summer.
The Blues have been one of the most active clubs in Europe in this window, signing no fewer than nine new players to their squad so far ahead of the start of the Premier League season, for a combined total of around £160 million ($208m).
Boehly and his Clear Lake Capital group have invested an eye-watering total of £1.2 billion ($1.54bn) since they took over the club from Roman Abramovich in 2022, with almost 40 new signings during that period.
The latest, Portuguese forward Pedro Neto, cost them £54 million ($69.7m) after completing a seven-year deal to join from Wolves on August 11. He became the 43rd member of the Blues' squad officially listed on the club's website for the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
Maresca has not ruled out further new arrivals either, with a deal for Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid said to be nearing a positive conclusion , although that move could also see Conor Gallagher go the other way.
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Such spending has raised more than a few eyebrows among Chelsea fans, who have questioned whether Boehly can simply continue to throw money at the problem of trying to break into the Premier League top four, and the title conversation, on a regular basis.
Club legend John Obi Mikel appears to agree, after delivering a damning verdict on the current regime's transfer policy, and questioning the need for the Neto signing.
Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel delivers brutal verdict on new Blues signing Pedro Neto
Speaking on 'The Obi One Podcast ', Mikel insisted Chelsea did not need to buy Neto, given his recent record and with more than enough firepower currently in their squad.
"£54 million on a player who is injury prone," he said. "His last three seasons he has missed more games than he has played and for me that is a worry when we decided to go for a player like that.
"When he is fit and firing he is a really good player, no doubt about that, but he is very injury prone, so why would you go for a player like that?
"We have a player who has come in who plays the same position as the best player in the team, Cole Palmer, so where are you going to fit him?
"Even if you say, 'well, Cole Palmer can play as a number 10' we have Christopher Nkunku who that is his best position, and that is where he should be playing.
"For me, Christopher Nkunku should be in that number 10 role, Cole Palmer should play on the right-hand side, so where do you fit Pedro Neto?
"I look at the whole team — so many players, it just looks like any player who has got a price-tag on him we go for him. That's ridiculous."
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