Juan Cuadrado Transfer Rumours: Latest News on Reported Chelsea Target

Juan Cuadrado proved to be at the centre of one of the on-off sagas of the summer transfer window, and now his name has re-emerged in January. Chelsea are reportedly favourites to land the Fiorentina man.

Continue for updates.

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Cuadrado Deal Reportedly Completed

Thursday, Jan. 29

According to a report from La Gazetta dello Sport, Chelsea have agreed to a deal to sign Juan Cuadrado worth €33 million, and will send Mohamed Salah to Fiorentina on loan as part of the deal. BeIN Sport's Tancredi Palmeri provided a translation:

Dominic Fifield of The Guardian, however, reported that Chelsea have not yet agreed to a deal for Cuadrado, but are prepared to meet his release clause:

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Chelsea are prepared to meet the £26.8m release clause in Juan Cuadrado’s contract with Fiorentina but will only progress with a deal for the Colombian once they have received an acceptable offer for André Schürrle.

The Bundesliga clubs Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund have expressed an interest in the Germany international, but neither has indicated they would be willing to match Chelsea’s valuation for the World Cup winner. The London club are seeking at least £25m for a forward who joined for £18m from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2013 and has started only five Premier League games to date this term, with negotiations on-going between all parties.

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Miguel Delaney of ESPN reported on a timeline for a potential deal:

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Chelsea are set to complete the transfer of Fiorentina's Juan Cuadrado "within the next 48 hours," with Mohamed Salah potentially going the other way on loan, club sources have told ESPN FC.

Chelsea will pay around 23 million pounds, with the rest of the fee made up by bonus clauses. But, in order to meet that, and continue to adhere to financial fair play regulations, Andre Schurrle may also leave Stamford Bridge for Wolfsburg now rather than in the summer.

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John Cross of The Daily Mirror is reporting that Jose Mourinho has intervened in the deal in the hopes of having him in the squad to face Manchester City.

Jerrad Peters of Bleacher Report provided a timeline needed to get Cuadrado in the squad in time:

Earlier in the day, Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) reports suggested Chelsea had agreed to pay Cuadrado's €35 million buyout clause in order to confirm his transfer.

Fiorentina have allegedly earmarked Bolton's Lee Chung-Yong as the winger's replacement, reported by Simon Jones of the MailOnline.

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Chelsea 'Agree' Cuadrado Personal Terms

Tuesday, Jan. 26

Chelsea have allegedly agreed personal terms with Cuadrado, according to Charles Perrin of the Express, who cites reports "on the continent." The Blues are getting closer to their man, reported by Perrin:

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It seems that Chelsea are closing in on Cuadrado, with reports surfacing on the continent indicating an agreement over personal terms has been reached. The broader details of the transfer are yet to be disclosed, but La Viola want Chelsea to raise their bid.

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Mourinho Casts Doubts Over Cuadrado

Friday, Jan. 23

Jose Mourinho is undoubtedly a master of the mind games, ESPN FC's Miguel Delaney provides his latest comments on Cuadrado:

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Cuadrado's Agent Reportedly in London, Salah Deal Close

Thursday, Jan. 22

Sky Italia's Gianluca Di Marzio believes Cuadrado's agent headed to London in order to work on a potential Chelsea switch for his client:

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There could be updates soon now that Cuadrado's agent, Alessandro Lucci, went to London after completing (Luis) Muriel's move to Sampdoria. Lucci will try to understand if there are the conditions to bring Cuadrado to Chelsea during the January transfer window. Moving to London is a fascinating option, but the negotiation has also just begun.

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This deal is likely to depend on whether Chelsea can off-load Mohamed Salah, who is growing ever closer to joining Roma, according to Matt Hughes of The Times:

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Cuadrado Price Squabble Emerges, Fiorentina Claims He'll Stay

Wednesday, Jan. 21

According to Simon Johnson of the London Evening Standard, Chelsea and Fiorentina are about £6 million apart in their valuations of Cuadrado:

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Chelsea have told Fiorentina they are only willing to pay £20.6m for Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado.

The Blues have made an enquiry for the 26-year-old, who they consider to be a suitable replacement should Mohamed Salah and/or Andre Schurrle depart to Roma and Wolfsburg respectively this month.

[...] Cuadrado is keen to leave the Serie A side, but has a clause in his contract worth £26.8m. Fiorentina are determined not to accept anything less, however Chelsea are hoping to do a deal for less anyway.

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Football Italia provided comments from Florentina coach Vincenzo Montella, who claimed Cuadrado was staying put:

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As of today there is no possibility Cuadrado will leave Fiorentina,” Montella told reporters after the game.

"He knows that certain things get exaggerated. It’s just idle chatter, he’s pretty accustomed to it.

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It had been reported that Cuadrado was present at Chelsea's Capital One Cup semi-final first leg clash with Liverpool, but Jose Mourinho seemed blissfully unaware, per Pete O'Rourke of Goal.com:

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Asked by the press about Cuadrado's presence, Mourinho replied: "He was here?", insisting that he had "no idea" if the Colombian was at the ground.

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Cuadrado to Chelsea Rumours Explode

Tuesday, Jan. 20

Chelsea boast one of the most fluid forward lines in the Premier League, but manager Jose Mourinho hasn't finished tinkering with his table-topping team's attack.

In fact, the Blues boss is reportedly ready to pay close to £30 million for Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado. That's according to Daily Star reporter Nick Lustig, who reports the Blues are ready to meet the £26.8 million fee Serie A side Fiorentina have slapped on Cuadrado.

Lustig, who also credits Manchester United with interest, cited GianlucaDiMarzio.com, which suggested an agreement could be reached during the transfer window.

That coincides with Sky Italia confirming talks are already taking place between the Stamford Bridge and Florence clubs:

In many ways, a potential move for Cuadrado makes sense. He's the classic Mourinho purchase, in the sense that he combines skill, power, effort and industry in equal measure.

Those qualities aren't necessarily shared by every member of the Chelsea attacking rotation. That's despite the club being amply stocked with wide players.

Belgian trickster Eden Hazard isn't exactly a worker bee. However, the mercurial winger often offsets any lack of application with moments of individual, match-winning brilliance.

It's over on the other flank where Mourinho can usually count on graft. Brazilian workhorse Willian certainly provides plenty of that.

But it's behind this pair where things look a little thin. Mourinho has never been enamoured by former Basel star Mohamed Salah. There have also been rumours about Andre Schurrle's future.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Daily Star writer David Woods recently declared the Blues are ready to ditch both Salah and Schurrle this month. Woods cited a perceived lack of defensive commitment, along with Schurrle being substituted before half-time more than once, as signs the writing is on the wall for the Germany international.

However, if Schurrle is going, Mourinho appears determined to secure big bucks for his seemingly not-so super sub. Mail Online reporter Simon Jones suggested Bundesliga club Wolfsburg will pay £23 million to take Schurrle back to Germany. Yet Jones also stated Chelsea have set the value at £30 million.

If Schurrle does leave, Cuadrado is an ideal replacement. He's not quite as dynamic in front of goal, but he's tough, quick and creative.

Providing defensive cover won't ever be a problem for a player who has also thrived at right-back for Fiorentina. Cuadrado is a stout figure who plays with a physical power that should ensure a quick transition to the rugged confines of England's top flight.

B/R analyst Sam Tighe provided a more detailed breakdown of why Cuadrado won't be short of suitors on the market:

His ceaseless running and endeavour would be the perfect foil for Hazard's flair and the cunning of playmaker Cesc Fabregas. Cuadrado's direct approach would also work well alongside prolific striker Diego Costa.

If Mourinho could wrap up a deal for Cuadrado this month, or even in the summer, it would be a major coup.