For some time now Chelsea have lacked a genuine playmaker. Under Jose Mourinho, they had fliers down the wings in Arjen Robben, and Damien Duff for a while, and there was a steady stream of crosses for the strikers to feed on. Through the middle, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Joe Cole, sporadically, provided cutting edge penetration and it was no coincidence the silverware flowed.
In recent times, though, there has been little creativity in the Chelsea ranks, they have depended more and more on power and their sheer physicality to overcome opponents.
It was the same again in the last two matches of the new Premiership season, despite Andre Villas-Boas running the rule along the touchline.
There was little inspiration or excitement in the matches against Stoke and West Brom and the news that Valencia winger Juan Mata is set to be the latest purchase by Roman Abramovich could not have come at a better time for the fans.
And with Luka Modric apparently on the brink of a switch in addresses, Villas-Boas must be looking forward to goals a plenty from his men once the M & M show gets going.
I know Fernando Torres will be licking his lips in anticipation, dreaming of wicked crosses from Mata and slide rule passes from Modric for him to gobble up.
Didier Drogba, who has seemed disillusioned, could well regain the spring in his boots as well.
And Arsenal fans will moan, wondering why Arsene Wenger can’t struck such deals!
At 23, Mata is already a World Cup winner with Spain and owns all the skills of a modern matador.
Modric is still only 25 and he is well-accustomed to the rigours of the English game.
The two signings may, in the end, prove to be the turning point for Chelsea and their hopes this season.
Their fans will be desperate Modric does sign, for the M & M show to get underway.
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