Montella cools Cuadrado Chelsea talk

Juan Cuadrado(left), a reported summer transfer target for Manchester United and Barcelona, has eclipsed his shaky start to the season with a string of solid performances to help Fiorentina up to sixth place

Milan (AFP) - Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella has played down reports that winger Juan Cuadrado could soon leave the club for Chelsea amid reports the Premier League side are preparing a bid for the Colombian international.

Reports claim Chelsea are set to offer €27m ($31million) for Cuadrado, although Gazzetta dello Sport claimed Fiorentina club president Andrea Della Valle would not sell for less than the value of his buy-out clause, €35m.

But Montella, speaking after his side's 3-1 win over Atalanta in the last 16 of the Italian Cup, said: "As far as I know there is no possibility for him to leave Fiorentina.

"He isn't really concerned by all this talk. Sometimes these situations are taken all out of proportion."

Cuadrado, a reported summer transfer target for Manchester United and Barcelona, has eclipsed his shaky start to the season with a string of solid performances to help the Serie A side up to sixth place.

Fiorentina are 16 points behind leaders and champions Juventus but are firmly in contention for the third and last Champions League qualifying spot at three points behind Napoli.