Chelsea Eye Barcelona Midfielder Fermin Lopez Amid Transfer Tension

Chelsea are pushing to sign 22-year-old Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez before deadline day. Lopez, who made 46 appearances and scored 8 goals last season under Hansi Flick, is reportedly frustrated after limited minutes this campaign. With Barcelona struggling to register new signings due to financial fair play, Chelsea could use the situation to their advantage.

For the final stretch of the transfer window, Chelsea have turned their attention to Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez, who could become available due to the Catalan club’s financial struggles. Lopez, 22, came through La Masia after joining in 2016 and made his senior debut under Xavi in 2023. Last season, under Hansi Flick, he became a key squad member, featuring in 46 matches across competitions and scoring eight goals as Barcelona lifted the La Liga title ahead of Real Madrid.

Despite his breakthrough, Barca’s ongoing financial fair play restrictions are creating problems with squad registration. New arrivals such as Roony Bardghji and Wojciech Szczesny remain unregistered, forcing the club to consider moving players on. Reports from Spain suggest Lopez could be one of those sacrificed, with a potential transfer to Chelsea easing Barcelona’s wage bill.

Tension has grown around Lopez’s situation, especially after he was substituted at halftime in the season opener against Mallorca and left unused against Levante a week later. Marca claim the player was “considerably angry” at being sidelined. With Chelsea searching for midfield reinforcements under Enzo Maresca, and negotiations for RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons proving difficult, Lopez represents a more attainable option as the deadline rapidly approaches.