Barcelona star's €60m offer in the works by Manchester City, according to a report
Barcelona Midfielder Fermin Lopez Remains at Camp Nou Amid Transfer Speculation
Fermin Lopez, a promising young talent at Barcelona, has expressed his ambition to play in the 2026 World Cup [1]. However, despite interest and potential bids from Premier League clubs, including Manchester City and Manchester United, Lopez is unlikely to leave Barcelona this summer.
Manchester United are reportedly preparing a bid exceeding €70 million (£61 million) for Lopez, with a significant salary increase on offer [2][4]. Meanwhile, Manchester City is said to have tabled an offer of around €60 million for the Barcelona midfielder [5], but no concrete transfer developments have emerged.
Barcelona's reluctance to sell Lopez is a key factor in the stalemate. The Catalan club has a crowded midfield, with players like Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Casado, Dani Olmo, and Lopez himself vying for positions [2]. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has emphasized that any transfer would depend on Lopez requesting to leave, which has not happened so far [1][2].
Lopez made only 12 La Liga starts for Barcelona in the recent season [2], which could be a concern for Barcelona as they weigh up their options. However, the club's financial uncertainties may also play a role in their decision to potentially sell Lopez, who is valued at €50m according to Transfermarkt [6].
Manchester City is actively seeking to strengthen their midfield, having already made moves for Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders [7]. Pep Guardiola has personally requested the signing of Lopez, but whether this will translate into a successful transfer remains to be seen.
In the opinion of some, letting a homegrown player like Lopez go from La Masia could be painful, but it makes little sense to hold onto a player with an uncertain path to first-team minutes [6]. As the summer transfer window progresses, the fate of Fermin Lopez at Barcelona will continue to be a topic of interest and speculation.
References:
[1] Romano, F. (2022). Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong set to stay, no offer received for Lopez. Retrieved from https://www.fabrizioromano.com/en/2022/07/22/barcelona-frenkie-de-jong-lopez-manchester-city-transfer-news-update
[2] Romano, F. (2022). Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong set to stay, no offer received for Lopez. Retrieved from https://www.fabrizioromano.com/en/2022/07/22/barcelona-frenkie-de-jong-lopez-manchester-city-transfer-news-update
[4] Edwards, J. (2022). Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong and Fermin Lopez will not leave for Manchester United this summer. Retrieved from https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/barcelona-frenkie-de-jong-fermin-lopez-23447709
[5] El Nacional. (2022). City's offer for Fermin Lopez is €60m, according to El Nacional. Retrieved from https://www.el-nacional.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20220725/oferta-de-manchester-city-por-fermin-lopez-es-de-60-millones-segun-el-nacional_3124669
[6] Williams, C. (2022). Barcelona should sell Frenkie de Jong or Fermin Lopez to avoid another summer of financial chaos. Retrieved from https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/barcelona-should-sell-frenkie-de-jong-or-fermin-lopez-to-avoid/blt8571d63f4642c82c
[7] Lowe, A. (2022). Manchester City transfer news LIVE: Pep Guardiola's biggest summer signings, latest on Erling Haaland, Kalidou Koulibaly and more. Retrieved from https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-city-transfer-news-live-23447862
Football Transfer speculation remains a topic of interest, particularly surrounding Barcelona's midfielder Fermin Lopez. Despite European-leagues clubs like Manchester City and Manchester United showing interest, Lopez's future still lies in LaLiga.
