Things are beginning to look a little ominous for the rest at Chelsea right now. They are moving fast, acting swiftly and setting themselves up nicely for the coming season.

Luiz Felipe Scolari is already in place, Deco has arrived alongside Jose Bosingwa and it seems Frank Lampard is going to give it one more season at Stamford Bridge. There will be at least a couple more signings and, with Manchester United close to losing the best player in the world, Arsenal selling and not buying and Liverpool stumbling along attempting to drop other clubs’ prices, Chelsea must be quietly confident of clambering back to the summit of English football.

Of course, situations can change very rapidly and there will be much more movement in the transfer market to come. It’s whether certain teams hold on to who they want, get rid of some and entice others away. It’s all cloak and dagger - and secrecy is of paramount importance.

Scolari will not muck around and his impact on the squad will be massive. Players will leave and a new style will undoubtedly be adopted by the Brazilian-born manager. One pleasure that Scolari will take great satisfaction from is the fact that he has an extremely talented squad to choose from and mould into his team.

The two additions so far are excellent pieces of business and Scolari will get two star seasons from Deco, who was the man who really made Portugal tick for years. Deco was a roaring success at the Nou Camp and will add even more Champions League experience, having won the trophy with two different clubs. The only problems I can foresee for him could be his style - and he will not be liked by opposition fans, that’s for sure.

The unfortunate aspect for opposing teams is that Deco has handled and been surrounded by this kind of unwanted attention for years - and he revels in it. It’s a great piece of business by Scolari and an absolute steal at the price.

I can see Chelsea winning the league this season and I am going to tip them now. I think Scolari will bring that extra something that not many can to a team. He will get rid of a few of the bit-part players but not a lot of tinkering needs to be done. If the applecart had not been upset so abruptly early last season, I think Chelsea would have won the league. That’s history now and it’s forgotten.

Last season would have hurt Roman Abramovich - he is not one to take a trophyless campaign lightly. He moved, it would seem, to instigate his new plans many months ago and millions will be available to Scolari if and when he wants. John Terry and Lampard will be extremely important to a seamless takeover by Scolari - and his soundbites concerning the English core at Chelsea have undoubtedly settled the lads and encouraged them.

There is a togetherness at Stamford Bridge that was instilled by Jose Mourinho and primarily Steve Clarke. Scolari has been wise to make sure that these players who are the lifeblood of Chelsea remain - and remain an integral part of future success.

An interesting season awaits.