Egypt and Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah (Photo: Reuters)
Mohamed Salah will make a rare starting appearance in Chelsea's FA Cup game against Bradford City on Saturday amid widespread reports linking him with a loan move to Italian side AS Roma.
Salah has only made six Premier League starts and played 30 minutes of top-flight football since joining Chelsea from Swiss side Basel in January 2014.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho hinted more than once that Salah would stay put but Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport said Roma had already reached an agreement with the Blues to sign the 22-year-old on a a six-month loan deal for 500,000 euros.
The official announcement should be made on Sunday following Roma's Serie A clash with Fiorentina, the paper added.
"Our desire is to keep the same squad which reflects we are happy with the players and the work we did in the summer to prepare for the season, and the trust we have in the group," Mourinho told a news conference ahead of Bradford's game.
"I like Schurrle and Salah and I need and I trust them. I can’t select the same 18 players every game and I can only start 11. Salah is not playing a lot, Schurrle is more than him, but they been involved in every competition including the Champions League ... We don't want to be involved in the transfer window.
"If we have to be it's because somebody pushed us, with some offer for our player. But Chelsea moving and looking for a change? No," he added.
Ahram Online has been told earlier that Mourinho has promised Salah that he would give him more chances to play, asking him to be more patient
Ahram Online understands Salah has been contacted by a number of famed European clubs.
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