Chelsea have agreed to meet Juan Cuadrado's release clause of €35m, meaning the Fiorentina winger could well be on his way to Stamford Bridge.
Cuadrado is wanted by Blues boss Jose Mourinho, but the English side have been reluctant to pay €35m for the Colombia international, putting them at loggerheads with Fiorentina, who will not accept a penny less.
The situation has been complicated of late by speculation Manchester United want Cuadrado, with talk of a €29m offer plus Adnan Januzaj on an 18-month loan having been made; Atletico Madrid too are suitors.
Chelsea have now been spurred into action and according to Sky Italia, have indicated they will meet the €35m release clause in Cuadrado's contract.
However, Fiorentina are still waiting for Chelsea to lodge the bid officially to activate the winger's release clause and until they do, will not agree to release their star man.
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Mourinho has done his best to play down talk of wanting to sign Cuadrado, but privately he is thought to have been driving the transfer saga.
For Fiorentina, Chelsea meeting Cuadrado's release clause so close to the end of the winter transfer window means a frantic last minute search for a replacement.
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