Reports: Roma agree Chelsea's Mohamed Salah loan deal

Chelsea are poised to let Mohamed Salah join Roma

Roma have agreed terms with Chelsea for the transfer of midfielder Mohamed Salah to the Serie A club, according to reports in Italy on Saturday.

The 22-year-old Salah, known as the "Egyptian Messi", will sign a six-month loan deal worth 500,000 euros to Chelsea, various local media suggest.

Roma are also said to have the option of tying the rarely-used Chelsea forward at the end of the current campaign to a four-year deal that would see the Premier League giants recoup up to 18 million euros.

Roma, who sit second in Serie A five points behind leaders and champions Juventus ahead of Sunday's trip to Fiorentina, have yet to issue any statement regarding the reports.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said last week Salah would be replaced in the event of his departure from Stamford Bridge, re-opening the possibility that he could relaunch his pursuit of Fiorentina forward Juan Cuadrado.

Chelsea and Fiorentina reportedly held talks over the transfer of the Colombian international last week although Chelsea's reported offer of 27m euros ($31million) was well short of matching Cuadrado's buy-out clause of 35m.

On Thursday, La Viola coach Vincenzo Montella reiterated his desire to hold on to the influential Colombian by declaring Cuadrado "will not be leaving the club".

By Ochieng Oyugi 19 mins ago
Athletics
Nowicki to use Kip Keino Classic to prepare for Olympics
By AFP 5 hrs ago
Athletics
Beijing half marathon runners stripped of medals after controversial finish
By AFP 17 hrs ago
Football
Arsenal, Liverpool fight to keep Premier League race alive
Athletics
World hammer silver medallist Kassanavoid eyes glory at Nyayo on Saturday