Ally McCoist has predicted where Chelsea will finish in the Premier League after a productive summer transfer window and the ‘bargain’ signing of Joao Pedro.
Hopes have been raised that Chelsea can mount a title challenge after the Blues spent another £250m on new signings this summer.
Brazil international Pedro is Chelsea’s most expensive signing of the summer at £60m but McCoist believes even that represents a ‘bargain’.
Pedro spent two promising seasons at Brighton before moving to Stamford Bridge last month and hit the ground running for Chelsea, starring in the latter stages of their Club World Cup win.
The 23-year-old continued to impress in pre-season, scoring two goals in the friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan.
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Pedro will need to be at his best this season, however, given the competition he is likely to face from the likes of Liam Delap, who joined Chelsea for £30m at the start of the summer.
Nicolas Jackson is also still on Chelsea’s books for the time being but there is a sense the Senegal international will be sold before the transfer window shuts.
‘Joao Pedro will be a fantastic signing for Chelsea,’ McCoist told talkSPORT Bet. ‘They have got a bit of a bargain there.
‘I’ll be honest with you, I thought Pedro would be a good signing but having seen the start he has had, he could be a great signing for Chelsea, he really could.’
As well as signing Pedro and Delap this summer, Chelsea have welcomed Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato and Estevao Willian to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea summer signings
Jamie Gittens – £48m from Borussia Dortmund
Joao Pedro – £55m from Brighton
Liam Delap – £30m from Ipswich Town
Mamadou Sarr – £12m from Lyon
Dario Essugo – £18m from Sporting CP
Estevao Willian – £29m from Palmeiras
Kendry Paez – £17m from Independiente del Valle
Jorrol Hato – £37m from Ajax
The Blues are currently working on a deal for RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons and are also lining up a bid for Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho.
Another productive summer in the transfer market has raised hopes that Chelsea can challenge for the title this season after finishing fourth last term.
As well as qualifying for the Champions League, Chelsea won the Conference League under Enzo Maresca before causing an upset and becoming Club World Cup champions.
But McCoist believes there is still a gap between Chelsea and the top-two from last season, Liverpool and Arsenal.
‘I think Liverpool will win the league again this year and Arsenal will finish second again,’ the former Scotland striker added.
‘I went the other way last year and had Arsenal winning it, but I just think Liverpool have done some great business this summer.
‘Arsenal I am looking forward to seeing. The Club World Cup will have an effect on Chelsea and Man City at some stage. I know they have big squads, but that was a long season.
‘I think Chelsea will finish third and Man City will be fourth, which is a bizarre thing to say as that could come back and slap me in the face as they could easily go and win it.
‘But [Kevin] De Bruyne has gone, probably at the right time to be fair, and there is a bit of a worry about them defensively. The fear factor is gone so that’s why I have got them finishing fourth.
‘I’ve got Aston Villa to finish fifth. They haven’t had much activity this summer but Unai Emery is a top-class coach and I fully expect them to continue their improvement.’
Chelsea’s first Premier League match of the season is a London derby against FA Cup and Community Shield holders Crystal Palace on Sunday.
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