Juan Cuadrado Transfer Leaves Question Mark over Willian at Chelsea

He's seen off the challenge of Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah at Chelsea, but now Willian is being met by the considerable talents of Juan Cuadrado.

Chelsea announced the signing of the Colombian from Fiorentina on Monday, and given their similarities, Willian appears the player most threatened by his arrival.

Whereas Schurrle and Salah are out-and-out wingers, players known more for their ability to provide width, beat opposing defenders and create chances, Willian is a different kind of beast.

The Brazilian took a while to settle into English football, but now that he has, we're seeing the best of him.

It's sometimes considered a negative to talk of a player in such terms, yet Willian's workhorse qualities are his most endearing.

Jose Mourinho has a player who grafts for his team, helping impose the high-pressing game that has brought them such reward this season.

It also frees Eden Hazard to play farther forward. The Belgian has his own defensive duties, but with Willian in the team, Chelsea will often adopt a 4-4-1-1 when in defence, leaving Hazard the farthest man forward behind Diego Costa.

Given their attacking instincts, Schurrle and Salah aren't players overly enamoured with that side of the game.

Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

They may give Chelsea an edge in attack, but defensively they haven't always decorated themselves in glory.

It's why Willian has emerged as the third cog in that attacking midfield area. Mourinho seems to appreciate his all-round game much more than the others.

Where Schurrle and Salah have failed in that regard, Cuadrado shines.

Physical and quick off the mark like Willian, Cuadrado is almost a mirror image of his new team-mate.

He operates on the wing and, at times, has been deployed as a wing-back for Fiorentina.

"

Hello from "The Bridge" pic.twitter.com/h1VZfvAGXs

— Juan Cuadrado (@Cuadrado) January 31, 2015"

Cuadrado certainly gives Mourinho more options; perhaps most concerning for Willian is that one of those is an option that doesn't include him.

If Chelsea are to continue with the counter-attacking style we have seen for much of the season, it's difficult to imagine Willian and Cuadrado playing in the same team too often.

Featuring one brings a balance to the Chelsea team, but both? If Mourinho's been criticised for adopting negative tactics in the past, he'll be dealing with a whole new storm of criticism with Cuadrado and Willian featuring heavily together.

It's where the signing of Cuadrado appears a strange one. Much like Willian, he'll provide a solid base to the Chelsea midfield, but outside of that, he's not going to consistently produce in the way Hazard can.

Stu Forster/Getty Images

Hazard's the type of talent that gets people off their feet, yet outside of him, Chelsea do not have another dynamic player to cause problems.

Cesc Fabregas has been excellent this season, allowing Mourinho's side to play from deep. The Spaniard has developed an understanding with Hazard that complements this team, but Chelsea need more outside of the pair.

Schurrle was a player who could be that man whenever Hazard didn't feature. His form has bottomed out since October, yet he was often good for an important goal—think Manchester City at home last season and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Cuadrado is more of the same in terms of what Chelsea have with Willian. And that there are other areas in Mourinho's squad that needed targeting makes the move all the more astonishing.

We saw last January that Chelsea added wisely to their squad, building with the current campaign in mind.

Cuadrado is certainly a signing that seems more long-term than just the final six months of 2014/15. His arrival does mean Chelsea can't fail on their summer targets, though.

Have they spotted an emerging talent within their loan ranks? Or will they look outside to bring another attacker to Stamford Bridge.

To take the next step and become the great side Mourinho wants them to be, they need to add a more dynamic approach.

Featuring Cuadrado and Willian together isn't going to deliver that.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes