Chelsea: Mohamed Salah to have final say over Fiorentina stay

Fiorentina have confirmed they want to keep Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah at the club and already have a contract waiting for him to sign, but admit the final decision rests with the player.

Salah left Stamford Bridge during the January transfer window as part of the deal that saw Juan Cuadrado arrive in west London.

The Egypt international initially joined La Viola on a six-month loan deal, but the club have the option of extending that for the duration of the 2015-16 season. Fiorentina will then have the option to make the move permanent for an agreed fee next summer.

Salah's initial loan deal from January expires on 30 June, as confirmed by the club upon the completion of the deal. This leaves Fiorentina with seven days to settle the winger's future.

Daniele Prade, sporting director of the Serie A side, has suggested the club have already taken up their option to renew the loan deal ahead of the new season, although Salah has the option to reject it, a move that would see him return to Chelsea before presumably signing for a new club.

Speaking at a press conference to present new manager Paulo Sousa, who replaces Vincenzo Montella, Prade said: "Fiorentina have exercised our option, the player has the right to choose and hopefully it will be in our favour.

"We want to keep him, and Salah will talk to the coach, his predisposition is to stay."

Fiorentina's general manager Andrea Rogg says the club have already paid a fee to Chelsea that allows them to renew their loan and have already drawn up a contract for the player, although a final meeting with the player's representatives will ultimately decide his future.

"We will meet with the representatives and will see what his requests are," Rogg was quoted as saying by the Evening Standard.

"We have spoken to the player. But we have already paid for the renewal of the loan, and established the contract for the upcoming season. We want to keep to what the contract says."

Salah made just three substitute appearances in the Premier League for Chelsea in the first half of the 2014-15 season but shone following his move to Serie A. The 22 year old struck six goals in 16 league appearances, providing three assists, and helped to the club to the semi-final of the Coppa Italia where they lost to eventual winners Juventus.