Chelsea might have made most of the headlines when it came to transfer business in the summer, but the biggest one in the English Premier League - Robin Van Persie's move from Arsenal to Manchester United - has made up for everything with the Old Trafford club already reaping the rewards, according to Sir Alex Ferguson.
United travel to Chelsea in a crunch clash Sunday with the best strikeforce in the League -- the only problem for Ferguson will be to decide who to play with his embarrassment of riches in Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez - all of whom have scored in the past week.
One person who will definitely be in the starting lineup, though, will be the prolific Dutchman, who netted a hat-trick for his former club Arsenal in their 5-3 win at Stamford Bridge last year.
"Robin's performances are getting better all the time," Ferguson said. "His cross last week for Wayne's goal was the kind a defender hates, whipped in between the first defender and the goalkeeper. It was brilliant.
"It is very difficult bedding new players in. But no big club can afford to stand still.
"When we realised Van Persie was not going to sign for Arsenal we did our very best to get him to our club and he has made an impact immediately."
Ferguson admitted Van Persie was brought in to add that extra zing and experience to the frontline -- so important when the title is decided by the smallest of margins, like it was last year on goal difference.
"We bought him to make a difference," Ferguson added. "Now he has got there with his fitness his movement has been really impressive.
"We want him to give us maturity up front and also the flexibility of different types of players. With Welbeck, Hernandez, Van Persie and Rooney we have fantastic alternatives. That could make the difference."
With Rooney again expected to play the playmaking role in the diamond formation, Ferguson will most probably have to choose between Welbeck and Hernandez to partner Van Persie up front.
"It's a good problem to have," Ferguson said. "I don't always enjoy it but it has to be done. In fairness to all the players they've accepted it well and adapted to it. I don't have any great problems other than having to tell one or two of them they're not playing.
"Chicha (Hernandez) was tremendous the other night. He's a really terrific player and such a dedicated footballer and professional in every training session. He's improving - that's the good thing about him.
"The thing that is making the difference to him is he got a proper rest in the summer. It was exhausting in the way it had been in the previous three years for him. That's helping him."
