How Man United's Move for De Bruyne Could Rest with Chelsea's Cuadrado Approach

Manchester United may be keen on Wolfsburg playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, but they need some dominoes to fall before securing the Belgium international.

According to Bild, as relayed by the Mirror, the Red Devils have made the 23-year-old their latest transfer target and are hoping to have him at Old Trafford before the end of the month.

De Bruyne's 10 assists so far this season have him atop the Bundesliga chart in the category, and his contributions have been central to his side's push for Champions League football.

A creative, versatile midfielder, he could be the sort of linking player to smooth United's laboured buildups. And while Angel Di Maria might have provided similar influence, manager Louis van Gaal has so far preferred to use the Argentine in a more advanced role.

In that context and given the presence of both Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata, it's debatable whether De Bruyne is even needed at the Premier League giants. But if they pursue him their success will be contingent on Wolfsburg replacing him—perhaps with Chelsea's Andre Schurrle—and with Chelsea replacing Schurrle with Juan Cuadrado.

As reported by Matt Law of The Telegraph, the Blues are looking to trigger Cuadrado's £26.8 million release clause with Fiorentina and could fund it by selling Schurrle to Wolfsburg, who would pay £23 million for the Germany international.

The series of deals would leave Wolfsburg with a forward who has rarely been given a chance at Stamford Bridge but whose timely goalscoring was influential in his country's run to World Cup glory in Brazil. The 24-year-old has managed just four goals so far this season but in 2012-13—his final campaign with Bayer Leverkusen—put the ball in the back of the net on 14 occasions.

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RUMOUR: Chelsea are in talks with Fiorentina to sign winger Juan Cuadrado. Do #CFC need him? pic.twitter.com/V17m5S6B0J

— bet365 (@bet365) January 21, 2015"

Chelsea, meanwhile, would be getting an all-action attacker who could relieve the likes of Eden Hazard and Willian from time to time and perhaps represent an upgrade on the latter.

That leaves Manchester United, whose transfer strategy often seems less an actual strategy than a wild, big-money flail in all directions.

They may not require De Bruyne, but if they want him they'll have to hope the dominoes fall favourably—and that Cuadrado is the first to be tipped over.