Chelsea forward Kai Havertz has praised Raheem Sterling after the England star helped the 10-man Blues beat Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday.
Sterling scored both goals in the 2-1 victory, which ensured Thomas Tuchel's side ended the weekend in sixth place in the Premier League table. The win came despite an early dismissal for Conor Gallagher, who was sent off for two yellow cards and later apologised for his actions.
Chelsea remain active in the transfer market, and there is every chance of further attacking reinforcements arriving at Stamford Bridge before Thursday's transfer deadline day. However, Sterling - who arrived as the first senior signing of the Todd Boehly era when he joined from Manchester City - has already made an impact.
"We needed goals, he scored two goals in the end and that’s the most important thing," Havertz said, as reported by The Evening Standard. "In the end, I think he did well and he helped us a lot today.
"It is very exciting [having a player like that around]. We have played four games and he has shown his quality today again.
“It is nice to play with him. He has lot of experience and knows how to move, and it helps you a lot if you have such experienced players next to you. His style of play suits us very well.”
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Sterling's impressive performance comes with Tuchel's side working against the clock to secure more signings, with several names linked. Chief among the forwards in the mix is Everton youngster Anthony Gordon, who appeared to wave goodbye to fans of the Merseyside club after scoring in their weekend draw at Brentford.
The 21-year-old is expected to set the Blues back up to £60m, with an initial bid knocked back by Everton. Chelsea also continue to be linked with a move for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was an unused substitute for Barcelona in their victory over Valladolid on Sunday, while Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha has also emerged as a potential target.
"We speak a lot about the transfer window but the good thing about this when it closes is you know this is your group and there are no more distractions," Blues boss Tuchel said before Saturday's win. "This is also for the players who maybe struggle at the moment with their decisions – where do I go, should I go, do I have an offer or not, what is my role?
"From the first of September this is clear and this will also give us a boost to build a strong squad and a strong group and an atmosphere within the group that carries us. I’m enjoying the challenge to build a new group and the challenge to be in the middle of the Premier League."
