Thomas Tuchel claimed Reece James' development is "far from over" after the right-back signed a new long-term contract with Chelsea.

James has emerged as a key player in Tuchel's Chelsea side since he took over last January, driving forward from a wing-back role or filling in on the right of the German's favoured three-man backline, and has made five Premier League appearances this season.

The England international penned a new five-year contract with the Blues on Monday, which reportedly makes him the highest-paid defender in their history. 

Speaking ahead of Chelsea's Champions League opener with Dinamo Zagreb, Tuchel expressed his delight at the Blues' ability to tie down one of their prized assets.

"Of course, he's a very decisive player for us and he's an academy player, and we told you many times how important he is," Tuchel said.

"I think his development is far from over, there's a lot to learn for him and there's a lot to come,

"But of course, we're happy to have a key player with us for so many years."

On the domestic front, Chelsea have claimed 10 points from their first six Premier League outings, which have contained a series of controversial decisions.

Last month, the decision to allow two contentious Tottenham goals in a fiery 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge led Tuchel to declare referee Anthony Taylor should no longer officiate Chelsea's games, comments which saw him fined by the Football Association (FA).

On Saturday, meanwhile, West Ham had a potential last-gasp equaliser against the Blues denied by a VAR review after a collision between Edouard Mendy and Jarrod Bowen, a decision David Moyes described as "scandalous" as he accused Mendy of feigning injury.

Asked to comment on the plethora of perceived mistakes made in recent weeks, Tuchel asked: "What can I say now to be clear and not pay a fine again? Where is the line? 

"Maybe it's better if other people talk about it, our last three home games were like… I don't need that anymore. Red cards, VAR decisions, goals given, decisions not taken where it's obvious to take them.

"Speaking about the last game, I understand the frustration, I understand the discussions about this decision. For me, it's not a 100 per cent decision. It was against Tottenham, it was not now.

"I was happy that the referee got the chance to have a review on the pitch and then it is his decision, we will never have a game without mistakes but at least he gave everyone the feeling that he took the decision.

"I understand the frustration, now it's maybe not on me to comment on it too much but I think the quality of the mistakes, nobody is happy with that."

Pressed on Moyes' comments about Mendy, Tuchel highlighted the FA's refusal to punish the Irons boss, adding: "I did not hear the accusations and you know what happened to me when I spoke about the referee… it was pretty expensive.

"I told you after that I will not comment anymore. I can understand his frustrations, his point of view, and we'll leave it there."

Chelsea have been inconsistent throughout the season's early weeks, and Tuchel believes Tuesday's trip to Zagreb is an ideal opportunity for the Blues to kick-start their campaign.

"We are ourselves in a moment where we need to improve. We are not fully happy with the results," he said.

"We are not fully happy with our performances, so we need to take the next step and it's Champions League so it's very exciting. 

"We are very aware of what the challenge is, to play the first match away in a group stage is always difficult, it can always end up in complicated situations, but I think it's very important that we accept it and play a humble match.

"We will accept the challenge and we will accept the fight, and then we can also have the belief and trust that we are able to win, but we need to perform, for sure."

Thomas Tuchel declared Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is hungry to prove a point as he weighed up whether to throw Chelsea's new striker in from the start at Dinamo Zagreb.

Aubameyang, who only left Arsenal for Barcelona in January, became one of the final major signings of a busy transfer window at Stamford Bridge, and has made the trip to Croatia for the Blues' Champions League opener.

The striker was unable to feature in a 2-1 Premier League win over West Ham on Saturday after suffering a broken jaw when his home was invaded by burglars ahead of his transfer.

But Aubameyang could be set to make his debut while donning a protective mask on Tuesday, and Tuchel believes the 33-year-old is desperate to hit the ground running.

Asked whether Aubameyang was the type of character to thrive in difficult situations, Tuchel said: "He is the sort of player. He's very ambitious, he's very focused and hungry to play for us. 

"He's hungry to prove a point still, that's why he's here. That's what we felt from the first moment and he's happily invited to prove a point tomorrow."

Pressed on whether Aubameyang could start, he added: "If an issue would come up today [on Monday], we will not put him tomorrow, but there was no issue for him [on Sunday] and I hope there will not be an issue.

"Is he ready to start? Of course, I think he cannot play 90 minutes so it's on us to take a decision on how we manage the minutes, he needs minutes to get his full fitness and rhythm, it's clear.

"So it's on us to find a solution, if he comes from the bench or if he starts."

Aubameyang scored 56 goals in just 63 league games under Tuchel's management at Borussia Dortmund, averaging a goal every 94 minutes of league action under the German.

His new team-mate Mateo Kovacic, meanwhile, believes the Gabon international fills a clear void in the Blues' attack. 

"I haven't seen him yet in training because he only trained yesterday with the team, so I haven't seen him yet, but he is a great player as we know, he scored goals everywhere," he said.

"We're looking forward to having him in our squad and he will be a big addition to Chelsea.

"He's a proper striker, a goalscorer, which we missed in the last years. We haven't had that goalscorer that scores 20 or 25 goals per season, which you obviously need to win the title.

"So like I said, we're looking forward to having him in our squad, and he will be a big addition, that's for sure. He's a proven goalscorer, for him it's normal to score goals and I hope he will do it here as well."

Thomas Tuchel professed his support for out-of-form goalkeeper Edouard Mendy after he produced an erratic display in Chelsea's 2-1 win over West Ham, insisting the Senegal international has been unlucky recently.

Mendy was rooted to his goalline from a West Ham corner when Chelsea fell behind on Saturday, Michail Antonio capitalising on a goalmouth scramble to put the Hammers ahead.

Although substitutes Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz scored a goal apiece to turn the game around, Mendy was again involved late on as Maxwel Cornet had a fierce right-footed finish chalked off.

Referee Andy Madley was advised by VAR to check the goal, and eventually ruled that Jarrod Bowen had fouled Mendy in the build-up.

Visiting manager David Moyes labelled that decision "scandalous" and "rotten" as he accused Mendy of feigning injury, but Tuchel insisted the goalkeeper was suffering after the incident.

"He was in a lot of pain, and we have to see. It's too early to comment on that," Tuchel said post-match.

"I think at the moment he is a bit unlucky in what he is doing. In training, he is fantastic, and he is, in general, a very calm and self-reflective guy who is aware that he lacks a little bit of luck at the moment.

"Things do not go in his favour. If he has maybe a situation where his action isn't 100 per cent clear, he gets punished for it massively. 

"He is just in this moment, and it feels like it's not so much his fault. I have the feeling because he tries everything, he is very calm and focused. We will keep on supporting him."

Despite eventually clinching a much-needed victory, Chelsea toiled for long periods at Stamford Bridge, and Tuchel will hope the arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang provides an attacking spark.

Aubameyang was in the stands at Stamford Bridge and is set to begin training with the Blues imminently, though Tuchel is unsure when he will be able to play after sustaining a jaw injury when his home was invaded by burglars.

"He trains tomorrow, but I cannot tell you if he trains with full contact or individually," Tuchel revealed.

"We'll need to see. He has the [protective] mask, and the doctors tell me the mask is good and he feels comfortable with it.

"So he would be okay, but we need to check it, and we need to check it with no contact, half-contact, and then full contact.

"We need to see how he feels about it. It's too early to make a prediction, but he'll be in training tomorrow morning, and we'll see."

Chelsea were the Premier League's biggest spenders in the transfer window, shelling out substantial fees for the likes of Aubameyang, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly.

But Tuchel thinks the stability offered by the closure of the window will benefit his team, adding: "For us, it's an immense boost to have the window closed. It's simply like this. 

"We now have the chance to demand full commitment. There is no way out anymore. We are the group for Chelsea that wants to have the best possible results and outcomes. 

"We have to take responsibility now from here. I am happy with everybody who is in the group. There is a reason for everyone to be in the group."

David Moyes railed against a "scandalous" VAR decision after West Ham were denied a dramatic equaliser in a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, though Thomas Tuchel agreed with the call to disallow Maxwel Cornet's late strike.

Chelsea were staring at back-to-back defeats when Michail Antonio gave West Ham a second-half lead at Stamford Bridge, but Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz stepped off the bench to turn the contest around with a goal apiece.  

The drama was not done there, however, as Hammers substitute Cornet had a fine right-footed effort chalked off after Jarrod Bowen was adjudged to have fouled Eduoard Mendy at the death. 

Moyes has now failed to win in 18 Premier League trips to Chelsea – the joint-longest winless streak managed by any coach at a single team in the competition (also Moyes at Arsenal).

The West Ham boss was furious with the decision and accused Mendy of feigning injury after the incident, declaring: "You have seen it, it is a scandalous decision.

"It's absolutely rotten from one of the supposedly elite referees - it doesn't say much about whoever sent him over from VAR as well - it is an unbelievable decision against us.

"We feel we got back to 2-2 and it [the loss] was not down to anything we have done. I support a lot of the VAR stuff.

"I actually think the goalkeeper dives, he is faking an injury because he cannot get to the next one, he did the same on the first goal as well. The referee somehow gets that so wrong it is incredible."

West Ham midfielder Declan Rice also made his displeasure clear on social media after the match, tweeting: "That's up there with one of the worst VAR decisions made since it's come into the game. Shambles."

But Moyes' counterpart Tuchel backed Andy Madley's decision to overturn the goal, telling the BBC: "The momentum of luck is always present, you can never plan things, you can never be sure in a league like this, anything can be turned upside down in any second.

"We were lucky today to get the VAR decision in our favour, which was for me the correct decision. But as we have discussed many times, the decisions don't always go your way."

Chelsea came back to win a Premier League match after conceding the game's first goal after the break for the first time since January 2009 (2-1 v Stoke City), and Tuchel was delighted with the Blues' response after they were beaten at Southampton on Tuesday.

"We wanted to restart the season, turn the game around and keep the three points here," he added.

"I never see a spectacular game against them. It's so, so hard to find spaces, to create spaces, to create chances. They defend deep, they defend with bodies, discipline and physicality.

"It's so, so hard to find a consistent rhythm, and if you lack a little bit of belief like we do, it's even harder. Then you go 1-0 down, this is almost impossible.

"To keep believing is very important, and to get the opener from the bench from Chilwell, and then from Kai the decisive goal, is so good.

"We wanted to define ourselves as a team who play with team spirit and to have a huge influence from the bench, which he had today, so full credit.

"I think it's also down to the situation that the transfer window is closed, now everybody knows that he is in the group, and we need to set the standards again.

"One of the standards was to toughen up and not be soft, to block shots, to give everything to defend our goal. We need to improve consistently and this is not over."

Kai Havertz came off the bench to seal a much-needed victory for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, as the Blues came from behind to beat London rivals West Ham 2-1.

Thomas Tuchel's team were booed off after failing to manage a single shot on target in a dismal first half, and fell behind shortly after the hour when Antonio converted following a goalmouth scramble.

But Ben Chilwell poked past Lukasz Fabianski to level the scores with 15 minutes remaining, and Havertz was on hand to turn the full-back's cross home to put the Blues ahead late on.

There was still time for Maxwel Cornet to see a fine strike disallowed for West Ham, but Chelsea ultimately held on to bounce back from Tuesday's loss to Southampton after an enthralling match.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can smash the "curse" of the Chelsea number nine shirt and become a Blues favourite, according to boss Thomas Tuchel.

Former Arsenal captain Aubameyang completed a return to the Premier League on Thursday when he left Barcelona in a deal worth £10.3million (€12m), signing a two-year deal.

As well as winning over Chelsea fans who remember him as a recent opponent from a rival London side, Aubameyang also faces the task of living up to his shirt number.

A string of well-known strikers have struggled to impress as Chelsea's number nine, including Alvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain, Radamel Falcao and more recently Romelu Lukaku.

Head coach Tuchel dismissed concerns over Aubameyang's attitude, after a four-year spell at Arsenal came to an acrimonious end in February, insisting he knows the Gabonese striker well enough from their time together at Borussia Dortmund for there to be no cause for worry.

"Auba is in my point of view always happy to fight for something and to accept the challenge," Tuchel said. "The more challenges he has, the better it is.

"If he wants to overcome the number nine curse or he wants to show someone in London that he's better than people think about him, the more the better, because he's up for that and he's happy.

"I know him as very focused and in general very open and a person with an open heart and happy to be on the pitch every day.

"This is what we wanted. He's a very positive influence on any group. He is up for any challenge and he's happy to be on the pitch and score goals."

Tuchel said Aubameyang was "ready to write his own history" at Stamford Bridge, explaining: "I imagine everybody's happy he chose the club in blue now instead of the club in red."

His portrayal of the former Gunner as an instinctive grafter might surprise some, but Tuchel hailed Aubameyang's pressing qualities and his work rate.

"That's what made him special in Dortmund, when he worked for me, and it's what made him captain of Arsenal, and he lifted some trophies there," Tuchel said.

"I think just to reduce him on his last half a year or half season [at Arsenal] where things became difficult ... I cannot judge it, but it's very rare in these situations where it's one person's problem.

"I'm not there to judge about anything, because it is none of my business. I can just tell you how I met Auba and how Auba was for me. At any club he scored and won titles. he has a winning mentality and he has the positivity to be a huge influence in that group."

Chelsea face West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday, but Aubameyang will play no part as he recovers from a jaw injury sustained when his home was raided by burglars on Sunday.

Chelsea have lost just one of their last 16 home league games against West Ham (W11 D4), going down 1-0 in November 2019, yet their overall home form is not the best at present, with just six wins against all opponents from their last 16 Premier League home matches (D8 L2)

West Ham manager David Moyes has won none of his 17 Premier League away games against Chelsea (D7 L10) and his team have a meagre two goals from five games this term.

Chelsea badly need a win after a midweek loss to Southampton, and Tuchel said: "We need to step up. If we don't get tough we will get punished all the way.

"This is not what we want. It is not what we are up to. It's proven that we can do it with this group so we need to find the right spirit and attitude throughout all the matches. This includes me, my staff and the team.

"From now on we will show a new face and we will have to show a new toughness."

Erling Haaland could become the greatest player in Premier League history after making an astonishing start to his Manchester City career, according to Jamie Carragher.

Haaland has been in electrifying form for Pep Guardiola's champions since arriving from Borussia Dortmund, hitting nine goals in his first five league appearances for City.

That haul is the best managed by any player in their first five Premier League outings, and the towering Norwegian became the first player since Harry Kane in December 2017 to score back-to-back hat-tricks in the competition against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

The City striker has averaged a goal every 43 minutes of league action this season, and Carragher believes Premier League fans are witnessing something special.

"I'd probably say Man City have had a really good window, with the players they've brought in," he told Sky Sports.

"They lost a lot of attacking players, but you look at Haaland… [Julian] Alvarez's start already, he looks [to have] real quality.

"Haaland's the one that jumps out at you, he just looks absolutely amazing.

"We know we've got a great player in the league, but I think we've got something really, really, special, where when he's finished his time at Man City or in the Premier League, we'll be taking about him alongside Thierry Henry.

"I think this lad could end up being the best player we've seen in the Premier League, I really do. He's that special and he's made a brilliant start." 

Should Haaland find the net when City travel to Aston Villa on Saturday, he would become just the fifth player to score in his first three away Premier League games (after Peter Beardsley, Jurgen Klinsmann, Francesco Baiano and Alen Boksic).

Given the 22-year-old's incredible form, he will likely also have his eye on becoming the first player in the competition's history to score a hat-trick in three consecutive appearances.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is another former Dortmund striker to have made a Premier League move, reuniting with former BVB boss Thomas Tuchel by swapping Barcelona for Chelsea.

While the 33-year-old's time at Arsenal ended in acrimonious fashion in January, Carragher believes his arrival represents a welcome boost for Chelsea.

"He's a quality player, there's no doubt about that, and I think it's a good signing," he said.

"People may question Arsenal's role for this, the fact they've let him go for free and Chelsea are paying money for him [less than] 12 months later.

"I think it's a good signing for Chelsea, but I also think it was the right decision for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, look where they are right now.

"Aubameyang, we know what he brings, goals and quality. Thomas Tuchel knows him, he's worked with him at Borussia Dortmund as well, and as a neutral, I'm delighted he's in the Premier League. He's a brilliant player."

Chelsea have completed the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona, seeing the forward reunite with his former Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge.

Tuchel's side have been in the market for attacking reinforcements since allowing Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner to return to their respective former clubs, Inter and RB Leipzig, after disappointing spells in west London.

Aubameyang enjoyed a successful half-season in LaLiga after leaving Arsenal in January, scoring 11 goals in 17 league appearances for Barca last term – a tally only bettered by Memphis Depay (12 goals in 28 games).

That form has persuaded Chelsea to agree a deal worth £10.3million (€12m) for the striker, who has signed a two-year contract with the Blues.

It is expected that Marcos Alonso will head in the other direction, though seemingly as a separate deal.

After the signing was announced, Aubameyang told the club's website: "I'm really happy. It's an honour to be part of this team and I can't wait to start. I have some unfinished business with the Premier League so it's good to be back and really exciting."

Aubameyang will hope a reunion with Tuchel allows him to rediscover the goalscoring form that convinced Arsenal to part with a then-club record fee for his services back in 2018.

The Gabon international has scored more league goals (56) and recorded more goal contributions (63) under Tuchel than any other coach in his career to date.

Aubameyang racked up those figures in just 63 games under Tuchel at Dortmund, averaging a goal every 94 minutes in league action during the German's spell as Dortmund boss – also a career-high figure.

Earlier this month, Tuchel insisted he had no concerns about Aubameyang's attitude despite his difficulties at Arsenal.

"We had a very close relationship. Always when we played him here with Arsenal, there was always straight away this close bond," Tuchel said. "They stay your players, in a way, and Auba is one of these guys."

The 33-year-old could make his Chelsea debut against Leicester City on Saturday, with the Blues eyeing a response after suffering a chastening 3-0 loss at Leeds United last time out.

Thomas Tuchel has been fined £20,000 and warned about his future conduct over comments made about referee Anthony Taylor following Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

The Football Association (FA) has imposed the sanction on the Blues boss, who was left incensed by what he deemed as errors from the Manchester official during the clash at Stamford Bridge earlier this month.

Tuchel claimed neither of Tottenham's goals should have stood, insisting Richarlison blocked Edouard Mendy's line of sight from an offside position when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg first levelled, before Cristian Romero pulled Marc Cucurella's hair in the build-up to Harry Kane's late equaliser.

The German, who also received a one-match touchline ban following an altercation with Spurs boss Antonio Conte, later said "it would be better" if Taylor no longer officiated his team's matches.

"I can assure you the whole dressing room of us, every single person, thinks that," he said during his post-match press conference.

A statement from the FA read: "An independent Regulatory Commission has ordered Chelsea FC's Thomas Tuchel to be fined £20,000 and warned about his future conduct for breaching FA Rule E3.1 during a post-match press conference on Sunday 14 August 2022.

"The manager admitted that his comments after their Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur FC constitute improper conduct as they imply bias, question the integrity of the match referee, and bring the game into disrepute."

Thomas Tuchel declared Chelsea must improve "as fast as possible" after claiming "it does not take a lot" to beat the Blues at present after their underwhelming Premier League start continued at  Southampton.

Chelsea took the lead through Raheem Sterling on Tuesday, but goals from Romeo Lavia and Adam Armstrong turned the contest on its head as Southampton secured a 2-1 success.

Having been thrashed 3-0 by Leeds United on their last road trip, Chelsea have now suffered back-to-back away league defeats for the first time since December 2020.

Tuchel, meanwhile, has suffered consecutive league losses on the road for the first time since he was coaching Paris Saint-Germain in August 2019.

After Southampton moved level with the disjointed Blues in the early-season Premier League table, Tuchel was at a loss to explain their troubles.

"I don't know if concerned is the word, I absolutely dislike to lose and it's the second time in the season, very early," he told BT Sport.

"I think it does not take a lot to beat us. This is what I don't like. We are humble enough to understand that we can lose matches and of course, away matches.

"We don't like it and we try to win every match but the way we do this is something we need to understand as fast as possible and to change.

"It's difficult, I don't know why, we start well in all the games almost, and obviously we struggle with our focus and consistency in matches.

"It's not enough to play 20 minutes good, we did the same in Leeds. Then one thing goes against us, and we struggle to find answers and fight our way back if things don't go in our direction."

Meanwhile, Sterling has now scored each of Chelsea's last three goals, and while Tuchel is concerned by his team-mates' attacking struggles, he emphasised the importance of rediscovering their defensive composure. 

"It is what it is and it's the reality. We played with four offensive players now many, many times," Tuchel said.

"I think in the first 20 minutes we created chances, half-chances but we struggled to score, which is also not brand new for us and does not necessarily need to have the consequence that you lose matches.

"You can also win 1-0 or 2-0 with a late goal, so no problem. But then you need to have a clean sheet, you need to be more focused. 

"The amount of individual errors, the lack of concentration is simply too high at the moment to win football matches consistently. We can win, of course, but it's not consistent enough." 

Chelsea were without Reece James due to illness and the injured N'Golo Kante on the south coast before sustaining another blow when Ruben Loftus-Cheek was withdrawn at half-time after suffering discomfort.

Tuchel was visibly frustrated with the injury woes that have hampered Chelsea as he added: "It's a hamstring injury, so the next midfielder is out and nobody is left.

"The recommendation for Mateo Kovacic was 20 minutes, we made 45 out of it. That's the situation.

"I also don't understand why we are in this situation regarding the injuries, and the injuries like all players in midfield. But that's the way it is, and we need to find solutions."

Southampton came from behind to stun Chelsea 2-1 as Adam Armstrong's goal dealt Thomas Tuchel's men their second defeat of the Premier League season.

Chelsea hit the front through Raheem Sterling after 23 minutes, but Romeo Lavia's powerful long-range strike dragged Southampton level five minutes later before Armstrong put the hosts ahead on the stroke of half-time.

With Reece James missing through illness, Chelsea struggled to create throughout a disjointed performance, and Kai Havertz squandered their best chance to level after the break.

The result saw Ralph Hasenhuttl's men draw level with Chelsea in the early Premier League table after a lively display, as the Blues' unconvincing start to the campaign continued.

Sterling produced a tame attempt when presented with Chelsea's first chance 13 minutes in, but he made amends to hand the Blues the lead, turning to poke home at the second attempt following good work from Mason Mount.

Chelsea's lead did not last long, however, with Lavia latching onto Havertz's clearance to open his Premier League account in spectacular fashion by drilling a vicious 18-yard strike past Edouard Mendy.

Southampton then hit the front through a well-worked goal as half-time approached, Armstrong controlling Romain Perraud's cross before composing himself and firing into Mendy's top-left corner.

Marc Cucurella kept Chelsea in the contest with an incredible goal-line block from Mohamed Elyounoussi's header after the break, before Havertz headed over from six yards when left unmarked as he met Cesar Azpilicueta's cross.

That represented Chelsea's clearest opportunity to find a leveller, with Thiago Silva forced to clear Mohammed Salisu's 73rd-minute header off the line as Saints went close to a third.

What does it mean? Away-day blues continue for Tuchel

Chelsea never looked entirely comfortable on the south coast despite taking an early lead, and the meek loss means they have lost consecutive Premier League away matches for the first time since December 2020 under Frank Lampard.

Tuchel, meanwhile, has been dealt his first back-to-back league losses on the road since he was coaching Paris Saint-Germain in August 2019, and his attentions will now turn to attracting much-required reinforcements before the transfer deadline.

Sterling shows his value

Having fired Chelsea to a hard-fought victory over Leicester City last time out, Sterling maintained his strong start at Stamford Bridge by opening the scoring.

Since Sterling made his Premier League debut for Liverpool in March 2012, he has 169 goal involvements in the competition, putting him level with Mohamed Salah with the joint-fourth highest tally in that time.

Armstrong ends drought

Armstrong had endured a long wait for a Premier League goal, with his composed strike marking his first time on the scoresheet in 18 games since he netted against Aston Villa last November.

The striker has only scored three times in 43 appearances in the competition overall, and Tuesday's strike is sure to be remembered as his most crucial to date.

What's next?

Chelsea welcome West Ham to Stamford Bridge for a London derby on Saturday, while Southampton go to Wolves on the same day.

Thomas Tuchel wants more signings before the end of the transfer window, but the Chelsea boss has said he will still be happy if no more players arrive.

Chelsea could be set to be one of the busier of the biggest Premier League clubs this week, with Tuchel's side in the market for several players.

Wesley Fofana's move from Leicester City is due to go through once the defender completes a medical, while the Blues are also interested in Everton winger Anthony Gordon and Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Wilfried Zaha has also been mooted as a target.

There could be several outgoings as well, with Conor Gallagher, Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah drawing reported interest. Callum Hudson-Odoi, meanwhile, is set to join Bayer Leverkusen on loan.

Among others, Chelsea have brought in Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella, but Emerson, Timo Werner, Romelu Lukaku, Malang Sarr and Levi Colwill are among those to have left, either permanently or on loan.

"Right now I think we could need more players in some positions," Tuchel said in a press conference ahead of Tuesday's clash with Southampton.

"But it's very close to the end of the transfer window and when September 1 comes I will be a very happy coach whatever happens, and try to find solutions, not think what could have happened or what could be.

"Everything that matters is the moment, finding a way to win, stepping up individually, stepping up from my side and this is what we will do no matter if players come in or not."

Asked if he had to treat players whose futures are still uncertain differently, Tuchel replied: "It's maybe human, if there is a transfer window and the players are not only with us at Cobham. Once they leave the building they will have their phones on, get calls, maybe think about their future – there is a World Cup coming, which everybody talks about and everybody thinks about.

"At the moment I accept that it is like this and from September there are no more excuses and distractions, so I am very happy when the transfer window is over, because then the commitment has to be here 100 per cent and we will not accept 99.

"But the reality is that sometimes in the last days of the window you have to accept it, no matter what you wish for, it's the reality."

One player who has swiftly settled into life at Stamford Bridge is Koulibaly. The former Napoli defender was sent off in a 3-0 defeat to Leeds United on August 21, but had looked impressive in Chelsea's opening two matches.

"He's a fantastic player, a fantastic personality," Tuchel said of Koulibaly, who will be back in the fold against Southampton.

"I am so happy with what I see, not only that we managed to convince him to come to the club but also how he plays, how he trains, I see a lot of quality and I think when we play Southampton he will be on the pitch. He's a massive player for us."

Brendan Rodgers has suggested wantaway Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana is on the verge of completing a move to Chelsea.

Leicester rejected three bids from their Premier League rivals for Fofana, but they have reportedly agreed to sell the centre-back for a fee of £75million.

The 21-year-old Frenchman was not included in the Foxes squad for a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday, as Rodgers says he was not in the right frame of mind to play any part.

Fofana has been training with Leicester's under-23 squad after making it clear he wants to join the London club before the transfer window closes on Sunday.

Rodgers has given a strong indication Fofana is close to getting his wish.

The Foxes boss said following the loss to 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge: "It's the same with any player. For me if they decide they want to move and see their future elsewhere it is better to have it done as quickly as you possibly can.

"You have to prepare a team and a group of players and you have to maybe replace that player. Every coach will tell you the same. It doesn't benefit anyone if it drags on. So we will see what happens over the weekend."

Rodgers added: "No doubt that when the window shuts everything calms down.

"We have been unable to add [to the squad] and there has been a lot of speculation about our top players so there is no doubt it has been difficult. But it will stop on Thursday and then we can move on but until then we have to keep fighting."

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel was tight-lipped over a move for Fofana, stating: "No, I can't tell you nothing about that."

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel hailed Raheem Sterling for his match-winning display against Leicester City that made sure the Blues bounced back after defeat to Leeds United last time out.

Tuchel, in the stands due to a touchline ban, saw his side endure a difficult first half at Stamford Bridge, in which Conor Gallagher was sent off after 27 minutes for two bookable offences.

But Chelsea responded following half-time, and Sterling's first goal for the club came shortly after the restart with the aid of a deflection off Daniel Amartey.

Sterling soon turned in Reece James' low cross for his second, and goal proved decisive as Tuchel's men clung on despite a Harvey Barnes riposte.

"It was necessary because we need him to score," Tuchel said after Chelsea's 2-1 win. "It's what he does, and he will score.

"I could feel he was not happy because he wants to score more and have more chances.

"We played today in a more aggressive shape, but then we were one man down, so we needed him to step up, which he did. The goals were crucial today because they gave us the belief."

Tuchel was critical of Gallagher, sent off in only his fourth Premier League outing for Chelsea, but pointed out others were also to blame for the challenge on Barnes that saw him dismissed.

"Today he is responsible for what he did, and he knows it was a huge mistake," Tuchel said. "We spoke briefly after the game, and things like this happen.

"It's not purely his fault alone because it was a set-piece for us and it's sloppy how we take set-pieces at the moment.

"We lack belief and precision, so it’s not good enough. We give chances away, we are sloppy in the coverage and bad in decision-making, so we have to stop and improve immediately.

"We are on it with the team, so I don't know why it happened again. It's a very bad decision for Conor, so of course he's upset, because it almost kills a whole football match."

Thomas Tuchel believes Chelsea must consider N'Golo Kante's poor injury record when they discuss a new contract with the France midfielder.

Kante has been crucial to Premier League, Champions League and Europa League wins since arriving at Chelsea in 2016, earning a reputation as one of the world's finest midfield enforcers.

But the 2018 World Cup winner has been beset by injury woes in recent seasons, and was ruled out for "several weeks" after suffering a hamstring injury ahead of last week's 3-0 defeat at Leeds United.

Kante made at least 34 Premier League starts in each of his first three seasons with Chelsea, but has failed to start more than 24 games in each of his last three full campaigns.

With the 31-year-old having entered the final 12 months of his contract with the club, Tuchel acknowledges his fitness record is a long-term concern.

"You have to consider everything that is on the table and on the table is his potential, on the table is his influence, and his quality," Tuchel said ahead of Saturday's home league clash with Leicester City.

"But also on the table, of course, is his age, his salary and his injury rate. From there you build a whole picture and try to find a solution."

Chelsea have taken four points from their first three games of the Premier League season, and sorely missed Kante's defensive discipline when they were torn apart at Elland Road last time out.

And Tuchel believes the midfielder's lack of availability makes it difficult for Chelsea to maintain a genuine title bid, adding: "This is a key question.

"We try to but it's much more difficult because you see the impact he has, you see the impact in the goals that we concede, the amount of goals we score, the amount of points that we have, the amount of goals he makes.

"He makes players simply better around him. He gives something that is very unique and don't forget, he also installs confidence that you cannot measure. That's why he is a key player. 

"But for the key players, it is super important to be on the pitch and to have that impact and be in the rhythm.

"You can count the matches that he is missing, but what about the first two, three or four matches where he needs to re-find rhythm? Nobody is counting these matches, so maybe in real life it is even more than just the matches he is missing.

"He comes back for the first match from the bench and maybe a second from the bench, and then the third one still struggling with confidence and rhythm. 

"This is basically the story and, yes, we have huge hopes we can turn things around, but this was a bad start."