Fiorentina file

In Florence we believe the deal of Cuadrado to Chelsea for €32m is all but done. He will fly to Chelsea on Saturday for the medical. Although he is not the player of last season, he joins the line of our midfielders tempted by big offers and champions league success. However, in the case of the last Fiorentina star Jovetic who went to Manchester City only the big wages are guaranteed as the Montenegran is but an understudy for Aguerro and does get many outings. Chelsea seek a right-sided midfielder but their midfield of Oscar, Willan, Hazard and Matic seems already selected so how many games will the Columbian get? We will get Salah on 6 months loan. Gilardino has returned to give more forward options but the days are running out for another big signing.

With one defeat in 7 games and Gomez finally scoring, we were upbeat but the loss of a Caudrado makes me think we will not catch Napoli or Roma for a Champions League spot.

We fans do not take kindly to losing a big player as it tends to emphasise that we are not a top three team and when one that is waves the cheque book to come a calling we tend to lose our player . This said, there will not be 6 days of rioting as when Baggio went to Juventus and it’s never easy to hold onto to a player who wants away.

More positively Guiseppe Rossi is back in training but you never know with his knee. On Saturday we go to Genoa who are in dismal form and of course on February 19 we visit Tottenham in the Europa League. I hear the second game at Florence is two days before the Capital Cup final which presents a quandary to Spurs who if they get their selection wrong could be out of two competitions in three days.

In Serie A it’s no surprise that Juve are 7 points clear, more that the two Milan clubs are in mid table.