Chelsea has shown interest in Barcelona midfielder Fermín López, but completing the transfer is proving difficult. Alofoke Deportes reports that the Premier League club needs to generate revenue to avoid UEFA sanctions.
The team led by Enzo Maresca has been looking to reinforce its creativity in midfield all summer, also considering Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig and Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.
As part of a sanction imposed by UEFA in July for non-compliance with financial regulations, Chelsea may not be able to register new signings for the Champions League if player departures do not occur first.
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Barcelona is open to offers for Fermín, as well as for Marc Casadó, Ronald Araújo and Andreas Christensen, to comply with LaLiga’s financial regulations.
Fermín, 22, extended his contract until 2029 last year. However, he faces competition in midfield with players like Dani Olmo, Gavi, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Casadó, and Marc Bernal. Raphinha has also been used as an attacking midfielder recently.Coach Hansi Flick opposes the departure of López, or any other player before the end of the transfer market. However, the club will listen to significant offers for the Spanish international.
Fermín, for his part, has expressed his desire to stay at Barcelona. After scoring two goals in the victory against Como at the beginning of August, he declared: “I want to stay here. It’s my dream. I will stay. You can rest assured.”
Fermín started in the first match of the season for Barça against Mallorca, but was substituted at halftime and did not play in last weekend’s victory against Levante.
After joining the Catalan club in 2016, Fermín progressed through the youth system, going through a loan spell at Linares in 2022 before being promoted to the first team of Barça in 2023.
In the 2023-24 campaign, he scored 11 goals in 42 appearances. In the following season, he scored eight goals in 46 matches, while Flick’s team won LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
Fermín was also part of the Spanish selections that won the European Championship and the gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games.
