Tuchel says it's an 'immense boost to have the window closed' as Aubameyang nears return

Thomas Tuchel has hailed the "immense boost" of the transfer window being shut and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's tentative steps into Chelsea training.

Chelsea spent a British transfer record of over €300m as new owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali overhauled the Blues’ playing resources.

New chairman Boehly has acted as interim sporting director, with manager Tuchel holding a key influence on transfer decisions.

Barcelona signing Aubameyang was due to start Chelsea training on Sunday, to try out a custom-made protective face mask.

The 33-year-old suffered a broken jaw during a recent home invasion but is determined not to let the attack keep slowing down his start at Chelsea.

"For us it’s an immense boost to have the window closed, and hopefully to have Auba back in training," said Tuchel.

"Auba will train on Sunday but I cannot tell you yet if it’s full contact or individually.

"We’ll need to see. He has the 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 with it. It’s too early to make a prediction but he’ll be in training tomorrow morning and we’ll see."

Aubameyang and midfielder Denis Zakaria were the final arrivals of a late transfer window blitz from Chelsea, also including high-profile recruits Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella.

Wesley Fofana made his Blues debut in Saturday’s 2-1 win over West Ham, just three days after completing his £69.5m (€80m) switch from Leicester.

Chelsea edged to their third win of the campaign thanks to late goals from substitutes Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz.

West Ham had taken the lead through