CHELSEA are ready to offer £50million for Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez as they step up their midfielder search.
RB Leipzig‘s Xavi Simons had been thought to be the Blues’ top target, but Chelsea are said to have had encouragement in recent days that Fermin is ready to consider the move.
GettyChelsea are interested in signing Fermin Lopez[/caption]
SunSport understands Chelsea are interested in the versatile midfielder, but the Blaugrana do not want to sell an asset they believe is worth more than £50m.
However, it’s understood that the sale of Fermin could help Barca in terms of financial fair play after they registered Marcus Rashford.
His current contract at the club lasts until 2029, with a £430m release clause and wages worth £5.2m per year.
According to reports, the Blues would be willing to offer him up to £13m a year, which would see him among the highest earners at Stamford Bridge.
Fermin can play on the left or in the centre of midfield in a more attacking role, making him a similar profile to that of Simons.
He is the only player, alongside Lionel Messi at Barcelona, to score and assist two or more goals in a single game for the LaLiga champions, and last season got eight goals and ten assists in a league-winning campaign.
For Barcelona, he competes for a position with the likes of Dani Olmo, Gavi, Pedri, and even now, Raphinha and Marcus Rashford on the left side.
Earlier in the window, the La Masia academy graduate insisted to Barcelona fans that he would not leave the club, stating: “Barcelona fans should rest, because I will stay here… I will not leave Barça”.
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But Sport in Spain report that he is now giving the Chelsea option serious thought due to their salary offer, the lack of a regular starting spot at Barca, and personal calls from Enzo Maresca.
The report adds that a higher bid of around £60m could be enough to force Barcelona’s hand.
Chelsea will almost certainly not complete deals for Fermin Lopez, Xavi Simons AND Alejandro Garnacho before the window ends, with the club needing to sell Christopher Nkunku before making a serious move for an attacking midfielder.
Nicolas Jackson is another player Chelsea could make a hefty amount from, with the striker finalising a move to Bayern Munich as reported by SunSport, though they may not receive the total amount from that deal in this transfer window.
The Blues have also concluded deals in recent days for Carney Chukwuemeka to Dortmund, with the club still keen to move on the likes of Raheem Sterling and other ‘bomb squad’ members before the window ends.
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