Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says new owner Todd Boehly backed him in their pursuit of former Manchester City attacker Raheem Sterling.

Tuchel was quick to pinpoint the City man who, with just a year left on his contract, was keen to secure regular first-team football.

"I gave his name to Todd straight away," he explains. "He's horrible to play against, horrible. The main point is his intensity and the amount of repetition of intensity that he delivers. This is simply outstanding over the last years.

"He caused huge trouble when he played against us and once you dig in deeper into his data and not only statistics in his goal involvements, it's outstanding.

"It's exactly what we need to raise the level of our players. That's why we are so sure and that's why he was, for us, top of the list."