Saturday 22 August 2015 18:38, UK
Chelsea's power in the transfer market has helped them sign a winner in Pedro, says Jamie Redknapp...
If Chelsea had kicked off their season with two wins out of two, they wouldn't have bought Pedro.
But falling five points behind Manchester City, after losing at the Etihad last weekend and drawing with Swansea on the opening day, forced Chelsea to act.
There are many reasons why Chelsea won the title last year, but one of them was that they did their transfer business so early in the summer that by pre-season Jose Mourinho pretty much knew his starting XI.
Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas had been signed and Thibaut Courtois was back from his loan at Atletico Madrid. It was a real statement of intent and from the first game they were ready to go.
This year, they don't look ready. They look off the pace.
Against Swansea they didn't look right and it all unfolded against Man City. They didn't match their title rivals for effort or quality, and that's so unlike them.
However, Pedro gives them a big boost going into the weekend trip to West Brom – and at £21m he's great value. He's won multiple league and European honours with Barcelona, not to mention a World Cup and European Championship with Spain. That experience is so important.
I expect him to slot in on the right of the three behind Diego Costa, with Willian moving into the No10 role and Eden Hazard on the left. That gives Chelsea a great attacking threat when everyone's fit and firing.
It also gives Oscar a real challenge to fight for a first-team spot.
Chelsea's signing of Pedro also highlights the power they have in the transfer market now. Manchester United looked like they were going to sign him and Chelsea trumped them. Years ago that would never have happened. Before the Abramovich era it would have been unthinkable.
But the game has changed and Chelsea and Manchester City are able to blow other teams out of the water when it comes to transfer fees, agent fees and wages. No one can live with them and the other teams are left fighting over the other players available.
Should they be restricted by Financial Fair Play regulations? I don't think that's fair. We allowed the likes of United to spend huge sums in the late 1990s and early 2000s, so why should Man City and Chelsea not be able to spend their money now?
Pedro gives Chelsea a big boost going into the weekend trip to West Brom – and at £21m he's great value.
Chelsea may see that investment pay off at the Hawthorns, where they'll be hoping for an immediate impact from Pedro.
Chelsea have lost three of their last four trips to West Brom but can't afford to drop more points, given their slow start.
We saw against Man City that West Brom will aim to sit deep and soak up pressure. That means Chelsea will look to the likes of Pedro and Eden Hazard to produce some magic to unlock the door.
I think they'll manage to do that – just as Man City did on the opening weekend – and I reckon Chelsea will win 2-1.
However, they'll have to be wary of West Brom's threat on the break. Salomon Rondon will make his home debut and I'm looking forward to seeing him in action. At £12m, West Brom have spent a lot of money by their standards to sign him and there will be pressure on him to perform.
Chelsea and Pedro will be hoping he doesn't spoil their plans to kick-start their season.
