Long-term Oscar contract spells big things at Chelsea

He netted twice on his first start for the club and welcomed back Jose Mourinho with the first goal of his second reign, and now Oscar is set to take his spell in west London until at least 2019, in a move that could be a shrewd one for the Blues.

The Brazilian has been ever present in the Chelsea line-up this season and has not disappointed, putting up a number of consistently good performances for the league leaders, netting four goals and assisting two others in the campaign to date.

Speaking at his delight of signing a new contract, the 23-year-old stated: “I’m so happy because I love playing for Chelsea and now I have five more years, so I am very happy”.

And while his contributions this season have not gone unnoticed, it is the longer term implications that could be a blessing for the Stamford Bridge outfit.

In this day and age, it is becoming somewhat of a rarity for the top players to stick around at one club for an extended period of time, with the lure of signing on fees and (even) bigger salaries turning heads throughout the game.

But in keeping the former Internacional man tied down to a long-term contract Chelsea, although he may not be their most feared goal-threat, can build around Oscar and will be provided with that stability that can breed success, with his peak years still ahead of him.

With the likes of Willian, Diego Costa and Ramires lining up alongside him, there is a certain Latin flavour taking over the attacking ranks at the Bridge in recent years, and the familiarity that these players have with each other can provide the foundations for further success to that they are already enjoying.

The odds of 1/6 almost suggest that the Premier League title is in the bag for Mourinho’s men, and with the Capital One Cup, FA Cup and Champions League still firmly in their sights, no one can rule out a totally dominant season from the London side.

And with many drawing comparisons to Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ campaign, Ladbrokes are offering 8/1 that the 2009-10 champions go unbeaten in the Premier League all season.

All odds and markets correct as of the date of publishing