Chelsea Could Have Versatile, All-Action Cuadrado Available for City Clash

Chelsea are facing the prospect of a top-of-the-table showdown without some of their best players, but they're also set to be boosted by the Premier League's biggest acquisition of the transfer window to date.

According to Firenze Viola (via Football Italia), Fiorentina's Juan Cuadrado has already said his goodbyes in Tuscany ahead of a €33 million move to Stamford Bridge.

Mohamed Salah, who joined the Blues just over a year ago, will head the other way on loan for the rest of the season, and the London outfit will pay his wages.

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It's likely the transaction was expedited after Tuesday's Capital One Cup semi-final against Liverpool, in which Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas picked up a hamstring injury and full-backs Branislav Ivanovic and Filipe Luis also went down with knocks that could keep them out of Saturday's clash with Manchester City.

Additionally, striker Diego Costa is facing the prospect of a three-match ban after being charged with violent conduct following his stamp to the ankle of Reds defender Emre Can. But, according to the BBC, he has launched an appeal with an eye to remaining in manager Jose Mourinho's plans going into the weekend.

Should Cuadrado fly to London late Thursday, as La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football Italia) has suggested, it's possible the finishing touches to the deal—including the medical—could be complete in time for the Colombia international to face the reigning champions, who currently trail league-leaders Chelsea by five points.

New players must be registered by noon Friday in order to contest the upcoming matchday.

In light of his mounting injury trouble, as well as the possible absence of Costa, Mourinho would no doubt prefer to have Cuadrado available for Saturday, both to provide a little something special on the attacking side of the ball and perhaps give City boss Manuel Pellegrini a problem he didn't plan on facing.

The 26-year-old, who has recently worked in support of striker Mario Gomez at Fiorentina, is also adept at playing from either flank and can even operate in a deeper, more defensive role.

A gifted dribbler who isn't adverse to committing himself in a tackle, he is a versatile, all-action contributor who could conceivably represent a slight upgrade on Willian—should Mourinho decide to use him down the right-hand side. Going forward, he will certainly allow the likes of Oscar and Eden Hazard a bit of relief as Chelsea pursue silverware on three fronts.

But in the short term, he could suddenly add additional subtext to a title confrontation that was hardly short of talking points in the first place.

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