Focus On Cuadrado  (Sky Sports)

His national team boss says he’d fit in perfectly at Barcelona, but Sky sources understand he wants to join Chelsea.

We take a look at Juan Cuadrado, the Fiorentina and Colombia ace who could be on his way to Stamford Bridge…

Name: Juan Guillermo Cuadrado
Age: 26
Position: Winger
Club: Fiorentina
Nation: Colombia (37 caps, five goals)

World Cup star

"He is ready to go to a great club, regardless of how well he does at the World Cup," said Colombia manager Jose Peckerman before the Brazil showpiece last summer. After one goal, four assists - the joint-most in the tournament - and a key role in his country’s run to the quarter-finals, it wasn’t just Peckerman singing Cuadrado’s praises.

The wide player’s breakthrough displays in south America capped a fine club campaign in which he’d scored 13 times in 38 games for Fiorentina, including a stunning, tie-winning strike in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Udinese.

Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Barcelona were among the clubs reportedly interested before he put pen to paper on a new contract with La Viola in October, tying him to the club until 2019.

Bright start

Cuadrado began his career in his homeland and scored on his professional debut for Independiente Medellin. Just a year later he made the switch to Europe, in a 2009 deal with Udinese.

A spell on the bench followed by a season on loan at eventually-relegated Lecce suggested Cuadrado would struggle to make a successful transition to Serie A, however a move to Fiorentina reignited the Colombian's career.

In his first campaign with the Florence club, the team finished fourth and Cuadrado chipped in with six goals and six assists, playing a key role in their 2012/13 season.

The following year Cuadrado more than doubled that goals tally and produced his semi-final heroics, although a foolish booking in added time of that cup tie saw him suspended from the final.

International talent

Cuadrado made a dream debut for Colombia in 2010, scoring in a 2-0 win over Venezuela and picking up the man of the match prize.

Now, with 37 caps and five international goals to his name, he is an integral figure in Colombia’s talented current crop, alongside the likes of Radamel Falcao, James Rodriguez and Jackson Martinez.

“He is a player with great physical conditioning who achieved great things with his club, just as he has done with his country,” says Peckerman.

Transfer target

Unsurprisingly Fiorentina - who purchased full ownership of Cuadrado in 2010 - are reluctant to part with their winger and club president Andrea Della Valle has insisted his £26.8m buyout clause must be met.

However, talks are ongoing between the Italian outfit and Chelsea and the exciting wide player - who has scored six times this season and unleashed 22 shots in his past five matches - could soon be on his way to the Premier League.