If Chelsea secure Hulk deal, does it make them Premier League contenders?

Numerous media outlets are reporting that the returned Chelsea gaffer has managed to persuade Blues boss Roman Abramovich to put in a £35m offer for Zenit St Petersburg forward Hulk in order to challenge the Manchester clubs for the Premier League title next season.

Manchester United and Manchester City have hardly been threatened in the previous two campaigns with only each other to fight against, but with the return of the special one and Arsenal expected to spend generously this summer will we see the capital clubs make more of push for the title? The signing of Hulk, as well as the already incoming Andre Schurrle will certainly shorten the odds on Chelsea lifting the trophy next May, but with the Red Devils already being priced at 2/1 with bwinbetting.com to retain their champion status it is clear to see who the country feel will win the English topflight.

Hulk, a full Brazil international, has only been at Zenit since September 2012  but is already fed of life in Russia and is keen to link up with the Portuguese manager at Stamford Bridge. The 26-year-old has endured a tough time this season and it has affected his form in front of goal. He has scored just seven goals in his 18 Russian Premier League games and as you can see from espnfc.com he netted 50 goals in 70 games for Porto in the previous two campaigns and in the early stages of the current one.

The thought of Hulk interlocking with the likes of Juan Mata, who scored 18 goals himself this season, Eden Hazard, Frank Lampard and compatriot Oscar is a mouthwatering prospect. With both Fernando Torres and Demba Ba both faltering at stages in the season just gone Mourinho will be desperate to inject goals into the team, and if he can keep Hulk in check then he will certainly provide that.