Chelsea Transfer News: Mohamed Salah Close to Roma Move, Kevin De Bruyne Rumours

Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah looks primed to join the ranks of Serie A once more this season as he nears a move to Roma, but former Blues midfielder Kevin De Bruyne doesn't appear likely to make a west London return.

Salah spent the second half of last season on loan with Fiorentina, who are threatening legal action as they look to seal his return. However, Salah's lawyer, Remy Abbas, has told LaRoma24.it (via Football Italia) Fiorentina cannot challenge Roma's move for the player:

"Fiorentina have no foundation for their demands, even if I know they are talking to Chelsea lawyers. There is absolutely no problem and we are continuing negotiations with the Giallorossi. First Fiorentina signed the contract agreeing the lad could leave if he wanted to, then changed their minds."

Fabrizio Giovannozzi/Associated Press

A further Football Italia report explains that a clause in Salah's loan contract last season permitted La Viola to make his temporary switch permanent for a fee of €1 million, but he "vetoed" the proposed return to Florence.

But Fiorentina evidently feel they have a case to bring the Egypt international back to the Stadio Artemio Franchi, with GianlucaDiMarzio.com translator David Amoyal providing further details:

Having found himself frozen out of the first-team setup at Stamford Bridge, Salah revived his season in a major way at Fiorentina, netting six goals and making three assists in 16 Serie A outings.

BBC Sport's Oluwashina Okeleji reports Roma will have to fork out $2.1 million (£1.4 million) in order to loan Salah, with an option to buy the wide man for $22 million (£14 million):

Salah's temporary move to Fiorentina aided the deal that brought Juan Cuadrado to west London, with the Colombian still attempting to find his feet in the English game.

That being said, although Salah's chances at Chelsea may be slim, he could still come to be a valuable asset if he continues to excel in Italy.

Wolfsburg Waiting On De Bruyne Bids

Markus Schreiber/Associated Press

Former Chelsea starlet De Bruyne may not complete a Premier League move after all this summer following news that Wolfsburg are yet to receive a bid for their star this summer.

Wolfsburg helmsman Dieter Hecking says there have been no offers for in-demand playmaker De Bruyne, per the Press Association (h/t ESPN FC), who's currently in north London playing at the Emirates Cup:

"We have no offer from Manchester City. No offer from anybody. Full stop. There is nothing from my side to say, there is no official offer to Wolfsburg. I'm not here to talk about contractual matters -- he has no [release] clause, but that isn't a question for us."

It's advantageous for the Wolves to have avoided any release clause in De Bruyne's deal considering how much his value has increased since moving to the Volkswagen Arena for a fee of £18 million in January 2014.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho found little use for De Bruyne during his two-year stint as a Chelsea player, but is aware of the profit Wolfsburg will be earning should they choose to sell, per PA Dugout:

The Belgium international made just three Premier League appearances for the Blues, but emerged as a Bundesliga talisman last term, netting 10 goals and making an astronomical 20 assists in 34 league games.

Just as he begins to find his feet with an elite outfit, however, De Bruyne should remain in his current setting for at least another year, according to Belgian football expert John Chapman:

It's a valid point that playing time will factor heavily in De Bruyne's reasoning in the build-up to Euro 2016, just as it did prior to his Stamford Bridge exit prior to the 2014 World Cup.

Chelsea will be content with the squad they've built since De Bruyne's departure, but the English champions may be even more pleased to hear Premier League rivals City aren't any closer to landing his signature.