Welcome back David Luiz, but Chelsea could have looked closer to home with their 38 loanees

It’s not up for contest which Premier League transfer stole the limelight this window, not just because of the caliber of the player or the clubs he transferred between, but of course largely in part due to the weighty price tag attached.

As an almost direct result of Paul Pogba trading Turin for Manchester, the transfer market, if not already exaggerated, has now become wildly inflated, which means that clubs – even those accustomed to overpaying for players– will be even more greatly extorted by the players’ current owners, as well as the agents who represent them.

Despite having made astute signings earlier on in the window in N’Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi, it was evident that Chelsea still needed to bolster their squad throughout the summer, but their struggles were nearly in vain.

Linked with a number of players, largely defenders, throughout the window, the deals never materialised, presumably because Roman Abramovich has a new stadium to fund and may be proceeding more cautiously and efficiently with his money. Marcos Alonso, as capable a defender as he may be, certainly does not seem a natural first choice for Chelsea.

But perhaps the greatest surprise of Chelsea’s transfer dealings was the return of everyone’s favourite curly-haired Brazilian, David Luiz. Barely a whisper of it all window until about twenty-four hours before it shut, the club put the finishing touches on the transfer in the dying moments.

The word is that Luiz himself pushed it through, such was his desire to come back to London and tidy up his ‘unfinished business’ at the club. And it certainly says something that he left European football at Paris Saint-Germain for what he believes to be a greater challenge, despite the present lack of Champions League, at Chelsea.

From a fan’s perspective, it is always nice to have a familiar face return to the club, especially as one as charismatic and passionate as Luiz. But is it a good idea?

Given that Chelsea chose to sell him two years ago due to his defensive liabilities, is this an upgrade or rather a step back to a player who does not seem to have changed all that much on the pitch? And although they sold Luiz to PSG for a reported approximate £50m, Chelsea did not turn a profit, but actually seem to register a deficit when you allow for all the various related factors.

It’s clear that manager Antonio Conte is looking to strengthen the spine of the team by bringing in crucial players in core positions, who will also be around in the future. There is the further importance of having big personalities, who have been at Chelsea for some time and are acquainted with the club and the fans. Moreover, having a player with Luiz’s abilities and tendencies may suit Conte’s preferred formations.

The Brazil centre-half changed his Facebook profile picture to him posing in Chelsea’s current home kit, even before the club announced the deal.

Chelsea have outdone themselves this season with a record 38 players sent out on loan by the time Transfer Deadline Day ended, and so you can’t help but wonder whether holding on to last season’s defensive signings in the shape of Matt Miazga or Baba Rahman, or indeed giving some of the youth players a chance, may have been good enough when you take into account who the club has ultimately brought in.

When you consider that, plus the fact that this is not the first time Chelsea have re-signed a former player only a few years after selling him, though the focus has understandably been on the consistency of the players and the managers that come through the club, it raises conjecture regarding the scouting talent the club employs, as well as the stability of the board or the Director of Football’s business model.

Luiz was an almost immediate cult hero amongst the Chelsea support in his first stint at the Bridge, playing through pain and injury, giving his all for the best of the team in every situation, demonstrating real desire and raw emotion and forging a connection with the fans.

The hunger that he has displayed in orchestrating his return will hopefully see him slot seamlessly into the side and contribute to the much-needed improvement in the Chelsea back four.