Chelsea’s star-studded squad powered to the Premier League title last season, with the West London side the undoubted top team in English football in 2014-15.

This summer’s recruitment drive has been relatively subdued by the champions, with it being tough to improve on Jose Mourinho’s already top-drawer squad.

The foot race for John Stones has the future in mind, while young Brazilian forward Kenedy has also been added but will have little-to-no role in the first team and Radamel Falcao has been added on loan to replace Didier Drogba.

The Stamford Bridge club have been forced to replace reserve goalkeeper and long serving club servant Petr Cech, who has been allowed to join cross-town rivals Arsenal in search of first-team football.

Asmir Begovic has been landed as the Czech Republic international’s replacement, with the former Stoke City star given the unenviable task of usurping Thiabut Courtois in the Chelsea team.

The giant Belgian proved himself in his first season in the English top flight as one of the best goalkeepers in European football and is already an important member of a Chelsea side with ambitions of Champions League glory next term.

His time at Atletico Madrid was an ideal introduction to the big time, with the former Genk man coming of age in the Spanish capital and returning to Chelsea as the finished product.

As such, Begovic faces a big ask in the search for regular football in 2015-16.

The Bosnian stopper has been one of the most consistent custodians in English football over recent seasons and has been steadily improving over the five years that he was first choice at the Britannia Stadium.

There is no doubting that Begovic is more than good enough to be a safe pair of hands in the Chelsea goal, but it is likely that his opportunities to play will be limited to when Courtois is unavailable or in cup competitions.

Begovic may well have been handed the number one jersey upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge, with Courtois keeping the number 13, but there should not be too much credence placed on this.

The interesting thing about the former Portsmouth man’s arrival is whether the new signing has already accepted the fact that he will be a number two at Stamford Bridge.

Signing for Chelsea will offer Begovic a more lucrative contract than the one he received at Stoke, while he will have a chance to play a potential part in the quest for silverware.

However, more often than not the Bosnian will take pride of place on the Chelsea bench and be forced to watch on from the sidelines.

Although he may well be part of a winning squad, after a couple of months of little-to-no action, it may well be that Begovic regrets making the decision to move to West London.

Plenty of other international-quality players have arrived at Chelsea in the past with ambitions of taking their careers to the next level, only to take a step back and leave after an underwhelming spell.

Unless Begovic gets a considerable piece of luck or somehow outdoes one of the world game’s best goalkeepers, it looks like his story could be similar.