Chelsea's transfer policy appears to be clear. Although it looks muddled when added to the current group - an overload of attackers, not enough midfielders and a strange mix of old and young defenders - Todd Boehly's drive for new players has followed a similar pattern.
The average age of their signings under the new owners is just 22.4. Considering they have signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 33, Kalidou Koulibaly, 31, and Raheem Sterling, 27 when bought, that is remarkable. Without those three it would be 20.5.
In January they have already signed six players and the oldest of those is 23-year-old Joao Felix, who's only on loan. The average age of signings under Graham Potter is 20.6. Chelsea have spent over £75million on teenagers since the summer and are continuing to plot ahead for the best young talent available.
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Although the big spending is yet to bear fruit on the pitch, it is part of a wider plan for progression under the former Brighton boss and the age of players purchased makes the idea and vision clear. Sell on the underperforming players in the summer and the Blues will see themselves in a very good position to move on.
Chelsea didn't give a single minute to teenagers last season but have already had 526 minutes played by a combination of Lewis Hall, Carney Chukwuemeka and Omari Hutchinson this term.
They already possess a core of strong players from several age groups above, Mason Mount and Reece James are the stars to have come through the academy, whilst Wesley Fofana is yet to hit his peak. Ben Chilwell is another that Potter has hardly had the chance to utilise. The aim is to add youth and quality to this group and become a force over a number of years, taking a step back from the here and now to prepare for the future.
The most recent player to join this set up is 20-year-old winger Noni Madueke. The former Crystal Palace and Tottenham youth forward has become known for his speed on the ball and direct dribbling. Similarly to Mykhailo Mudryk, a winger with comparable skillset on the other side of the pitch, Potter's transfers are starting to show signs of following a pattern on the ball too.
Familiarity will come with time, but Madueke may well settle quickly. As a London-born kid he is back home, and he admitted as much in his first interview with the club, saying: "My hometown is London. Chelsea is the best club in London, isn’t it? So, that one is pretty obvious.
"It’s really exciting, a lot of young players, a lot of talented players, hungry. I’m blessed to be part of the project and hopefully very soon we’ll start reaping the rewards of it.”
He will also have some familiar faces to reacquaint himself with. Playing for England's youth sides he has featured on the same field as Conor Gallagher and Levi Colwill before. Gallagher has been used regularly in a variety of roles by Potter and is starting to make more of a name for himself at Stamford Bridge.
Transfer speculation continues to surround him with the thought that former club Palace may well revisit a deal to sign him, but the 22-year-old remains committed to his boyhood club. Colwill, on the other hand, is one of the standout players to emerge from Cobham in recent years.
He has worked his way into a starting spot at Brighton this season and is earning a first taste of Premier League football and is impressing too. At 19, Chelsea want to make him a keystone of their future defence. There's every chance the England trio line-up together at Stamford Bridge.
When compared to other sides across the league it isn't often that three top end players can be recruited for what is essentially just £35million. Had Chelsea decided to go for alternative options to Gallagher and Colwill then they would be spending an extra £30million per head, at least.
By encorporating homegrown graduates into their side it allows Chelsea to focus on the external talent available too. Not only is it a good business deal, it also could help to bring great success and patterns of play on the pitch next season as well.
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