'Bakayoko is no Matic', Chelsea are weaker this season - Ray Wilkins

Former Chelsea player Ray Wilkins has questioned Antonio Conte's transfer business for the summer. The Blues won the Premier League crown under the Italian's first season in charge, but they have struggled to display a similar performance this term.

The likes of John Terry, Nemanja Matic and Diego Costa were replaced by Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata, respectively during the summer, but Wilkins suggests he would have kept the title-winning squad intact.

He told Sky Sports: "I don't think we are anywhere near as good as last year. We had the best forward (Costa) in the league last year. We had people at the club that you need at a football club, like John Terry.

"I don't know why we didn't offer John something around the club to keep that Chelsea business going on, I really don't. Bakayoko is no Matic, not yet anyway. Matic is just superb. I don't think we are anywhere near what we were last year."

Chelsea have made a slow start to the 2017/18 Premier League season, and they currently lie in fourth spot, six points adrift of leaders Manchester City.

It was in a similar period when the Blues started a long winning streak last term, but Conte has a harder task in hand with Bakayoko, in particular, yet to stamp his authority in central midfield.

The reigning champions have an away trip to Crystal Palace following their international break, and they will fancy their chances of securing three points with Roy Hodgson's side yet to register a point or a goal this term.