Buy now, play later: How Chelsea's transfer strategy will change the game forever

When Nemanja Matic next runs onto a football pitch in a Chelsea shirt, almost three years, two transfers and about 50 million euros in spent cash after his last appearance, no one will argue it was all part of the plan.

Had the Serb not been deemed expendable in the €25 million deal which brought David Luiz to Stamford Bridge from Benfica in January 2011 and inconsequential enough to make the insertion of a buy-back clause seem unnecessary, Roman Abramovich need not have reached so deep into his pockets to acquire the powerful, dominating midfielder Jose Mourinho craved.

Yet Matic’s career path, leaving Chelsea to forge his reputation before returning to enjoy his peak years, is one the club fully expects – and indeed hopes – will soon become a road more taken.