Thomas Tuchel said Chelsea still need more arrivals heading into the final few days of the transfer window.
Wesley Fofana is expected to complete a £70m move from Leicester City to Chelsea, with the Frenchman having sat out Saturday's Premier League game between the sides.
Chelsea are still pushing hard to complete a deal to bring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Stamford Bridge from Barcelona, while also pressing for Everton's Anthony Gordon.
The Blues are understood to consider Wilfried Zaha as a possible alternative to Aubameyang, with boss Tuchel still hoping to see more new faces arriving before the Thursday night deadline.
Tuchel has long since vowed to be happy with the squad at the window’s close whatever the situation, but also admitted he hopes for further additions.
"Right now I think we could need some more players in some positions, but it’s very close to the end of the transfer window and when 1 September comes, I will be a happy coach no matter what happens," said Tuchel.
"I will try to find solutions and not think about what might have happened or what could be.
"Everything that matters is reality and at the moment [against Leicester] what mattered was finding a way to win.
"What will matter at Southampton [on Tuesday] is the same, find a way to win, step up individually and push the team from my side. This is what we will do no matter if players will come or not."
Barkley agrees early Chelsea exit
Ross Barkley has left Chelsea after four years with the Premier League club.
Chelsea agreed a deal to settle the remainder of the England midfielder's contract, allowing the 28-year-old to leave Stamford Bridge as a free agent.
Barkley made 100 Chelsea appearances and scored 12 goals following his switch from Everton in January 2018.
Barkley struggled to replicate his impact at boyhood club Everton in west London, finding his first-team chances increasingly limited in the last two seasons.
Chelsea’s new owners have continued their progressive approach to reshaping the senior squad this summer by agreeing a deal for Barkley to leave Stamford Bridge, despite his contract not expiring until next summer.
Barkley’s best moment at Chelsea came in his substitute appearance in the 4-1 Europa League final triumph over Arsenal in Baku in 2019.
"Ross Barkley has left Chelsea by mutual consent and becomes a free agent," read a Chelsea statement.
"The midfielder, who joined from boyhood club Everton in January 2018, made 100 appearances for the Blues in all competitions, scoring 12 goals.
"The most memorable was his injury-time equaliser against Manchester United in his first full season at the Bridge.
"At the end of that campaign he helped win the Europa League, scoring a spot kick in the shoot-out victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the semis and then coming off the bench in the brilliant Baku triumph against Arsenal."
Hannibal joins Birmingham on loan
Birmingham have signed Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri on a season-long loan.
The 19-year-old Tunisia international was part of Erik ten Hag's pre-season tour squad and featured in two matches in Thailand and Australia.
He made his senior debut for United on the final day of the 2019-20 season and played twice in the Premier League last year – a substitute appearance against Liverpool at Anfield before making his first start in the 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace.
Mejbri could make his Birmingham debut as early as Tuesday, if his clearance comes through in time to face Norwich in the Sky Bet Championship.
