Chelsea winger's £16million January Juventus switch to give Jose Mourinho transfer freedom

Juan Cuadrado has made nine appearances for the Old Lady so far this year

JUVENTUS are closing in on a £16million permanent deal to sign Colombian winger Juan Cuadrado from Chelsea in January - in a move that could boost Jose Mourinho’s hopes of adding to his own squad.

 

Winger Cuadrado is on loan at Juventus until the end of the season, but the Italian club want to make the transfer permanent when the transfer window re-opens in January.

Chelsea had wanted around £18m for the former Fiorentina player, but could now be prepared to accept a lower offer to bring in some cash.

Despite the club’s terrible start to the season, Chelsea have made it clear to manager Mourinho that the club’s transfer policy will still be to stick to a one in, one out policy – and there will be no big January spree.

 

But the departure of Cuadrado would allow Mourinho to bring another player in – most likely a defender, with Everton’s John Stones still of major interest, but he could also move for a back up striker for Diego Costa, with Radamel Falcao possibly allowed to cut  short his loan early in January.

“When people start rumours, they have to think a little bit,” said Mourinho. “Why? Because, when Chelsea have Pedro, Hazard, Willian, Kenedy, Traore, Cuadrado and Moses, we cannot make a collection of wingers.”

 

Juan Cuadrado arrived from Fiorentina, but never really settled at Chelsea

Cuadrado joined Chelsea from Fiorentina in January in a £23.3m deal, but the 27-year-old only made four Premier League starts for the club.

Roma have already activated the clause to sign Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah permanently from Chelsea for around £15m, but his registration will not be transferred until next summer – meaning his fee will not be available to Mourinho until the end of the season.