Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has said that new signing Raul Meireles has filled a space in midfield that the club needed.

The Blues moved for Meireles in the final hours of the transfer window last month when the former Porto midfielder submitted a late transfer request at Liverpool after spending just one season at Anfield.

Despite spending the summer in pursuit of Tottenham's Luke Modric, the Chelsea manager insists that Meireles can be the club's missing link in midfield.

"We spoke about the fact we wanted to fill a space in midfield and bring one more in," he said. "Raul had a great season at Liverpool. He is an extremely good idea for us and we’re happy to have him.

"He has the ability to play in a number of different positions. He knows how to arrive at the correct time to score and assist.

"Raul is like Frank Lampard, Ramires and Nicolas Anelka. Like all of them he constantly opens a line of passing. The other players know that he's always available for the ball and that fits the philosophy we want to have."

Meireles is in line to make his Blues debut at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland this weekend.