
Chelsea
are in talks to sign Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado from Serie A club
Fiorentina, according to Sky sources.
The 26-year-old impressed at last summer's World Cup and has a £26.8m
release clause in his contract at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Reports suggest that the Premier League leaders had an initial £20.6m offer
rejected on Wednesday but that Cuadrado's agent, Alessandro Lucci, will fly
in to London with a view to brokering a deal.
Blues boss Jose Mourinho looks increasingly likely to offload two of his
current wingers as he waits for improved offers for Mohamed Salah and Andre
Schurrle from Roma and Wolfsburg respectively.
Cuadrado, who along with Germany star Toni Kroos led World Cup 2014 in
assists, initially joined the Viola on a season-long loan from Udinese in
2012 - impressing sufficiently to earn a permanent switch the following
summer.
Since arriving in Florence, Cuadrado has racked up 21 goals in his 82
appearances for the club.