Chelsea FC have been severely linked with Colombia and Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado over the last few days.
There have been reports suggesting the Blues have lined up a move for the player and would be having a little clean out in the squad to make way for the highly rated Colombian with Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah looking likely to be leaving Stamford Bridge this month.
Chelsea are aiming at silverware this season and are the title favorites at the moment. Mourinho wants to ensure the Blues keep the momentum for the second half of the season and has enough quality in the squad. While Andre Schurrle is also a fine player, Cuadrado could prove to be an upgrade on the German and Chelsea could have a tormenting squad with the addition of the Fiorentina winger.
When questioned about Chelsea’s interest in the 26 year old, Jose Mourinho coyly replied, a Hea s a Fiorentina player. You ask me 20 names, if I dona t know them, trouble. My son knows them! Ita s my job. I think he fits well in Fiorentina squad, and Colombia squad, not in Chelsea squad.a
Fiorentina’s manager Vincenzo Montella has said that the winger would only be allowed to leave the Italian club before the 2 February transfer deadline if his buyout clause, reported to be A?26.8m, is met.
a The issue around Cuadrado is very simple: he has a buy-out clause, which was written into his contract along with the club,a Montella told the Italian media on Saturday.
a If a team comes along and pays it, and the player wants to leave, then he can go. This clause expires during the last few days of the transfer window, but as far as we are concerned the player is not for sale.a
Cuadrado has four goals and four assists for Fiorentina in the league this season. He is capable of playing on both the left or right wing, and even as a wing-back. He is a pacey winger and is menacing on the attack. The 26 year old provides width to the attack and can link up well with the forwards for them to feed off his deliveries. He is an awe-worthy dribbler and it was reported in 2013, that he doubled the dribbling rate of Cristiano Ronaldo, per league game.
Chelsea have apparently also turned to Shakhtar Donetsk’s Brazilian midfielder Douglas Costa as an alternative in case the Cuadrado talks collapse.
