Jose Mourinho: Cesc Fabregas can provide Chelsea with title bid boost

Cesc Fabregas (R) left Barcelona to join Chelsea this summer

Cesc Fabregas is the ideal signing to help Chelsea stage a successful title assault next season, according to Jose Mourinho.

The Spanish midfielder, Fabregas, joined the Blues last week from Barcelona for a reported £27 million and his new manager believes he will sit into his side and fill the void left by the now departed Frank Lampard seamlessly.

Mourinho insisted, throughout last season, that Chelsea were a team in progress and weren’t title contenders. Yet, they finished third and only four points behind champions Manchester City but the arrival of Fabregas to bolster his midfield will help bridge that gap next term according to the Portuguese tactician.

“He is the kind of player we [Chelsea] need,” Mourinho told ITV. ”Not just for his qualities as a player but also his competitive personality.

“He is a player in the best years of his career – 26, 27, 28. He knows England well, he knows the Premiership well, so he will not need time to adapt.”

Fabregas is likely to join up with his new team mates earlier than expected after Spain suffered a shock exit from the World Cup on the back of losing their two opening games. Chelsea begin their Premier League campaign away to newly promoted Burnley on the opening weekend and Mourinho believes Fabregas will have an instant impact.

“I think he is the kind of player who will come and train for a couple of weeks and be ready to prove himself.”

Fabregas registered 13 assists for Barcelona last season.