'THE days of Chelsea spending their way to the title are over', we were reliably informed by owner Roman Abramovich recently, as the Russian billionaire spoke of developing youth at Stamford Bridge.

That approach could well have to be postponed for a few months, given Chelsea's under-performing end to 2006, or Manchester United will wrestle the crown back to Old Trafford for the first time in three years come May.

At 10pm on January 2 there will be a clearer picture of what lies ahead. Chelsea face west London neighbours Fulham today and Aston Villa on Monday. United have dates with Reading and Newcastle.

Late on Tuesday night United could still be in a handsome position, or Chelsea will have closed the gap again. It is, however, unlikely Jose Mourinho's men will be sitting top of the tree again, given the form of both sides.

But, regardless of whether the divide remains four points between the leaders and the champions or not, Mourinho will have already gone cap in hand to the club's mega-rich owner asking for home improvements come the new year.

With a month to get things right in January on the transfer front, you sense Mourinho will be desperate to do just that.

He failed miserably in the summer. The acquisitions of Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack have done more for commercial income than the results business, while the big money captures of Khalid Boulahrouz, Jan Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou have contributed little other than promise.

To have started the season with no recognised right-back, while sanctioning the sales of both Robert Huth and William Gallas at the back end of August, was a recipe for disaster for The Special One. It is only now he is realising the extent of his errors.

He admitted earlier this week he has had to consider the very real prospect of asking striker Didier Drogba to play as a centre-back, with John Terry's date with a French specialist to examine his problematic back a major worry.

But, with Shevchenko playing 'very, very, very far away from his best', Mourinho has little choice but to keep the Ivorian up the field and persevere with the leaky defence that is to the detriment of Chelsea's season.

Six goals have been conceded in Chelsea's last three games since Terry's problem first came to light, they are now just eight goals short of the number they conceded through the whole of their second title winning season.

Boulahrouz and Paulo Ferreira's weaknesses have been found out, while midfielder Mikael Essien is even being asked to fill the breach at the heart of the defence. Geremi is now effectively first choice right-back by default.

Mourinho can not be blamed for the way in which he was robbed of the services of Petr Cech in October, nor can he be blamed for Terry's injury woe.

But, with the most expensively assembled squad in history at his disposal, you would think he would have sufficient cover to cope.

Instead, he is hoping to add £20m-rated Micah Richards to his pool of players next month, while a striker could also be on the agenda again following Shevchenko's failure to adapt to the English game.

Major improvements are needed if they are to make it three titles in a row and keep up with United in their recent form, in which Chelsea have dropped six points at home from their last ten games. Compare that to the 55 points secured from a possible 57 last season and it's easy to see why they are not top at the turn of the year.

More additions required in January, otherwise it will be Ferguson and not Mourinho drinking the finer red wine come the summer