Chelsea have spent the thick end of a billion on 26 players since the lifting of the transfer ban four years ago and signed none better than Thiago Silva who came on a free.
This is not to denounce the frenzy of overspending. Although it wouldn’t be difficult. Not today. Just think what good that sort of money could do other than stop Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner scoring goals.
Rather to examine the enduring qualities of Silva in an era when the top clubs are all chasing central defenders quick and athletic enough to guard the vast open spaces created by the thirst for breakneck football with the full backs pushed on.