
Chelsea
have secured the services of Juan Cuadrado, according to Fiorentina coach
Vincenzo Montella.
Sky Italia are reporting that the 26-year-old Colombian is still in Italy
but due to fly to London on Saturday for talks and a medical at Stamford
Bridge.
Fiorentina are expected to receive £23.33m plus a bonus that amounts to
Cuadrado's £26.34m release clause with Chelsea's out-of-favour forward
Mohamed Salah moving on loan in the opposite direction.
When asked about Cuadrado's potential move to the Premier League leaders,
Montella told his club's website on Friday: "It was a sale that had to be
done. The club has done the right thing because we are also getting a very
good player.
"Naturally, we need to understand how long Salah will need to adapt to our
football as it's different from the English and Swiss leagues.
"From a defensive standpoint, Cuadrado guarantees us a lot more than Salah.
Cuadrado is a player that has always arrived with a smile and given
everything to Fiorentina.
"I am convinced that if he could have played tomorrow he would have. I'm
happy for him because he is going to a big club."
Cuadrado, viewed by Chelsea as a replacement for forward Andre Schurrle
who's closing on a move to Wolfsburg, joined Fiorentina in 2012 from Udinese
and has been a regular in Montella's side since.
The Colombian has scored four goals and set up four more in 17 league
appearances for the Serie A side this season.
He was one of the stand-out players alongside James Rodriguez for Colombia
in last year's World Cup in Brazil and was tied to the Viola until June
2019.