Abbas: Salah will return to Chelsea for pre-season

Mohamed Salah will join up with the rest of the Chelsea squad for the start of pre-season as his public dispute with Fiorentina rumbles on.

The Egyptian has opted against returning on loan to Florence, where he spent the second half of last season and notched six goals and three assists in 16 Serie A appearances.

Chelsea and Fiorentina originally agreed an 18-month loan deal for Salah as part of Juan Cuadrado's January move to Stamford Bridge, but the player had power of veto over returning to Stadio Artemio Franchi this summer.

Fiorentina insist they are considering legal action over Salah's refusal to rejoin them, but the player's agent Ramy Abbas says his client will instead meet up with the rest of the Blues' squad for the first day of pre-season training on Thursday.

“The player will go to the training camp with Chelsea,” Abbas told Sky Sport Italy.

“The English club meeet up again officially on Thursday in London, and Salah will be there with them.”

Salah is considered surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and Fiorentina's Serie A rivals Inter are believed to be leading the race to sign him.