The question of transfer business at Chelsea currently draws a shrug from Jose Mourinho. With only Radamel Falcao, as well as reserve goalkeeper in Asmir Begovic, added to his first team squad and another purchase, Danilo Pantic, loaned to club affiliate Vitesse Arnhem, the Premier League champions' manager has little to talk about.
As it stands, for Chelsea to defend their title, largely the same group of players that won it last season, minus Petr Cech, Didier Drogba and full-back Filipe Luis, will have to do. In recent years, a club built on the heavy spending of owner Roman Abramovich has gained a reputation for being the sharpest sellers around, rather than the biggest buyers.
Since the start of 2014, Chelsea have cashed in on David Luiz, Juan Mata, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Andre Schurrle and Ryan Bertrand for a combined total of almost £150 million. Another £18m is expected for Mohammed Salah once his move to Roma is completed.
Finding the right players for Chelsea is a key issue in recruitment, according to Mourinho, as he outlined his reasons behind the departures.
"We have to sell them because they don't want to stay and compete for a place," he said on Tuesday, speaking at the Premier League's Launch Day in South London. "That's the reason why you have to sell -- not because they aren't good enough. We know that they are good enough. But what we don't want is to have players who are not happy to stay and are not happy. You can ask them why they want to leave the club and if they're honest all of them -- Lukaku, De Bruyne, Schurrle, Salah -- will say it's because they don't want real competition. They don't want to have some big players with them fighting for a place."
Those who have left Stamford Bridge in the last 18 months have failed to meet the unremitting standards that Mourinho sets for his charges. The Portuguese is not concerned that such an unbending attitude could put off those whose expectation is to play each game. Such decisions are made by him alone.
"I don't persuade because I promise nothing -- and the last thing I promise is 'You come here and you play.' I always tell players the reality of things," he says. I see for example [Kurt] Zouma, the happiest boy in the squad, to be an important player like he is, to know that he has a brilliant future at this club. I see him always ready to work and to give everything for the team."
Zouma's attitude contrasts those of the players who moved on, according to Mourinho.
"I see him always ready to play even in positions that aren't the best position for him. Players are different and I respect the way they are and the club doesn't like to have unhappy people. When the players aren't happy, the club is normally willing to let them go."
After losing out to Barcelona for Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan, the player most heavily linked with Chelsea has been Everton defender John Stones.
Mourinho, though, is in little mood for reopening a war of words with Goodison manager Roberto Martinez and, furthermore, has called for the transfer window to close when the season begins.
"Stones is an Everton player and I don't speak about players from other clubs, especially when the competition starts in two days -- and the market also should stop in two days," says Mourinho.
A lack of new recruits begs the question of whether graduates from the club's hugely successful youth set-up -- Chelsea have won the FA Youth Cup four times in the last six seasons -- can bolster Mourinho's squad this season.
John Terry is the last to have come through the Chelsea ranks and stuck in the first team. Since then, graduating from the youth ranks has proved problematic for a host of promising Blues players.
For example, after debuting in 2010 Josh McEachran -- now permanently of Brentford after a July move -- made just 22 first team appearances and was loaned out five times.
The last of those spells came at Vitesse, currently the preferred destination for Chelsea youngsters. Five are currently at the Dutch club, including Pantic and Dom Solanke, whose move was announced on Tuesday.
One who has stayed is midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who is considered one of Chelsea's brightest prospects. The 19-year-old made two starts at the end of last season, before being criticised publicly by his manager during the club's post-season tour of Australia.
"It depends on him," says Mourinho of Loftus-Cheek. "Not on me. People normally ask about chances and chances and chances and maybe that's a good excuse for the young players to be where they are. I think maybe for the good of English football, you should go the other way. Are you ready to get the chance?
Those given that chance need to hit the ground running or they miss their shot, continues Mourinho.
"The players and the agents would like this -- 'Oh I need five matches in a row to prove myself ... Oh, you need five matches in a row? Oh, fantastic.' You don't need five matches in a row. You need 10 minutes. In 10 minutes you can show me if you are ready or if you are not ready. Zouma didn't have five matches in a row."
Not that Mourinho is unconcerned by other clubs doing business where his is yet to splash the cash.
"Years ago the best players at the best teams in other countries left to come to the big clubs in England," he said. "[Now] Southampton bought a Sporting Lisbon player [Cedric Soares], West Ham got a player from Marseille [Dimitri Payet], Bournemouth got a top African player from Saint-Etienne [Max Gradel], Newcastle got a big guy from Anderlecht [Aleksandar Mitrovic] and the Dutch boy who plays for the national team [Georgino Wijnaldum].
"Every club has very good players so I think it's difficult for the top teams in England because of the competitive nature. It's also difficult because they have players who could play in our teams - [Yohan] Cabaye could play for Chelsea, what's the doubt? Wijnaldum could play for Chelsea, what's the doubt? Gradel could play for Chelsea, what's the doubt?"
Despite others importing such exotic talents and four other title rivals strengthening -- Mourinho includes Liverpool as a threat -- Chelsea's squad remains that which won the league at a canter last season.
"We have the same team," he says. "I don't want to think about it. I know the market is open. Anything can happen, players can come, players can leave, but I like to think as a coach which means to think that the competition starts in two days and I don't want to think about transfers."