Latest news with #FerminLopez
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fermin Lopez has new suitors from Saudi Arabia
Fermin Lopez has new suitors from Saudi Arabia Saudi giants Al Ahli have expressed their interest in signing Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez (h/t Diario Sport). Al Ahli have earmarked the Spaniard as one of the marquee signings and are ready to submit a lucrative contract proposal. Advertisement They are also looking to capitalise on their good relationship with the Catalan giants, who they raided for Franck Kessie in 2023. Meanwhile, the Catalan giants are open to the idea of selling Lopez as they want to generate funds for new signings. However, the La Masia graduate is determined to continue his development at Barca and win more silverware. The 22-year-old had a terrific 2024/25 season, from winning the Euros and Olympics Gold medal with Spain to achieving a domestic treble with Catalan giants. Despite not being a regular starter, Lopez played a prominent role under manager Hansi Flick, delivering some excellent performances. Advertisement He concluded the campaign with eight goals and ten assists in 48 games for the Blaugrana. The German manager also sees Lopez integral to his plans, while the Spaniard wants to win the starting berth and make his mark with the Catalan giants next season. Bayern Munich and Chelsea have also approached Lopez, who appears to be steadfast on staying at Barca. The La Liga champions have been trying to sign a new left-winger this summer, with Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams topping their wishlist. Although Nico is keen on joining Barca, the Catalan club need to speed up their sales operation to pay his release clause worth €58 million. Advertisement Barca also consider defender Ronald Araujo as another sellable asset. AC Milan have emerged as the suitors for the Uruguayan defender, who is valued at €50 million. The Blaugrana are on the verge of announcing the signing of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bayern Munich approach Barcelona star over summer move
Barcelona will likely have to make a large sale this summer if they want to fund a move for one of their top targets this summer, and there are a limited number of players that they are both willing to sell, and could fetch a major fee. Rumours continue to surround the future of Fermin Lopez. As far back as March, it was reported that Barcelona would consider offers for Lopez, despite his important role for Hansi Flick this season. The 22-year-old however has seemed reluctant to leave. Beyond initial interest from Saudi Arabia, more recently Chelsea have been linked with a move for the Barcelona man. Image via Juan Manuel Serrano Arce Enquiry from Bayern Munich As per Ben Jacobs, Bayern Munich have recently made an approach for Fermin. However the Spanish international, as was the case before with interest from Chelsea, appears to prefer staying at Barcelona. Barcelona sales this summer The Blaugrana have already made some money this summer from the likes of Alex Valle (€6m) and a sell-on fee for Jean-Clair Todibo (€7.8), but there is no obvious source of a major sale this summer. Lopez could have been a candidate for a departure, given they are well-stocked in his position, but as has happened frequently of late, Barcelona have found many of their stars reluctant to leave. Ronald Araujo was another heavily linked with an exit in January, but after signing a new deal until 2031, seems keen to remain. The Uruguayan defender has already assured that he will be at the club next season. They continue to be heavily linked with the likes of Liverpool's Luis Diaz, and Athletic Club's Nico Williams, but with uncertainty remaining over their salary limit situation, both seem distant without some source of income. Nevertheless, Barcelona have found ways to get deals done in the past from unlikely positions.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barca reject chance to swap Fermin for Nkunku
Barcelona have reportedly turned down an offer from Chelsea to swap Fermin Lopez for striker Christopher Nkunku. There have been a few whispers of Chelsea interest in Lopez over the last few days, but the latest report claims the Blues were thinking about a swap deal. Advertisement According to Mundo Deportivo, the idea didn't go down too well in Catalunya. Barca 'flatly rejected' the proposal with Joan Laporta and Hansi Flick both uninterested. Lopez became a really useful player for Barcelona last season. He was not a regular starter but still ended up with eight goals and eight assists for Flick's side. The youngster has already made it clear he's not interested in leaving Barcelona, and it seems the feeling is completely mutual. MD say that Barcelona will only consider letting Fermin leave if he wants to move on in search of more regular playing time. Lopez seems happy at the club for now though and did sign a new long-term contract until 2029 at the end of last year. Advertisement More from
Forbes
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
FC Barcelona Fears First Team Star Might Leave This Summer
FC Barcelona fears that its midfielder Fermin Lopez might be tempted to leave the club this summer ... More amid interest from the likes of Premier League giant Chelsea and the Saudi Pro League according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources. FC Barcelona fears that its midfielder Fermin Lopez might be tempted to leave the club this summer amid interest from the likes of Premier League giant Chelsea and the Saudi Pro League according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources. Once seeming as though he was on borrowed time in Blaugrana when shipped out on loan to lowly Linares, Fermin pulled his socks up and impressed then-head coach Xavi Hernandez upon returning to Catalonia in the summer of 2023. He was swiftly taken on a preseason tour of the United States where he scored a screamer in a Dallas friendly against Real Madrid, and hasn't looked back since as a regular part of the furniture under Xavi's successor Hansi Flick. In a domestic treble-winning season where he scored eight times and provided 10 assists on his way to a maiden La Liga title, Fermin was also impressive in landmark wins against the likes of Bayern Munich in the Champions League and proved Flick's best alternative when the German's first choice CAM in Dani Olmo was frequently injured. It's no surprise that Chelsea came in with a $80 million (€70 million) for him according to El Chiringuito, with Mundo Deportivo further explaining that the west London club suggested a part exchange deal that would have sent Fermin to the English capital yet had Christopher Nkunku heading in the opposite direction to its Catalan counterpart. Barca rejected those suggestions but reportedly fears a 'mess' unfolding with the 22-year-old. The club itself has no intention of showing Fermin the door, which can't be said about players such as captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ansu Fati and Pablo Torre. However if Fermin gets his head turned by the riches of the Premier League and Saudi Arabia and explicitly asks to leave for economic reasons or other sporting projects that allow him more protagonism, President Joan Laporta might not stand in his way. Barca doesn't think this will happen, with Fermin a much-loved presence in the locker room who 'has the total confidence of Hansi Flick' and 'feels the colours" of an outfit who he has played for since being a child scouted by La Masia. At the same time, however, it is an awfully crowded competition when it comes to minutes in midfield at FC Barcelona. Fermin is fighting not just with Dani Olmo in CAM but also with close friend Gavi while Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Casado and now Marc Bernal look for prominence a little further back.
Forbes
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
FC Barcelona Responds To Premier League Interest For First Team Star
FC Barcelona has responded to another offer from Premier League giant Chelsea for one of its star ... More players in Fermin Lopez according to Mundo Deportivo, which cited anonymous sources. FC Barcelona has responded to another offer from Premier League giant Chelsea for one of its star players in Fermin Lopez according to Mundo Deportivo, which cited anonymous sources. Fermin is an example to any budding professional for his work ethic and humble attitude. Often struggling in La Masia because of his inferior height and weight, he happily went out on loan to Linares while on the fringes of the Barca reserve team. Playing at a lower level ended up being a revelation for the Andalusian, who impressed then-head coach Xavi Hernandez in preseason upon his return to Catalonia and was taken on a preseason tour of the United States. Scoring a screamer in a friendly against Real Madrid, Fermin hasn't looked back since and continued to blossom under Xavi's successor Flick with protagonist performances against Bayern Munich in the Champions League among others. Becoming a domestic treble winner in Spain to compliment his Euro 2024 and Olympic gold medals for La Roja, Fermin is understandably the subject of interest from further afield. The fact that Dani Olmo pretty much has the CAM spot locked down under Flick as Fermin and Gavi battle for the rest of the minutes might make those from outside the club think they can tempt Barca into a sale, and it was reported this week by El Chiringuito that Premier League giant Chelsea has offered €70 million to try and make Fermin club teammates with his international comrade, and fellow former La Masia alumnus, Marc Cucurella at Stamford Bridge. That bid was turned down, and Mundo Deportivo also details how anonymous sources close to the negotiations explained that Chelsea has also offered a part exchange. This would entail Lopez heading to the English capital and Christopher Nkunku travelling in the opposite direction to its Catalan counterpart. Yet Barca has also reportedly knocked back that suggestion too, as the top priority of Sporting Director Deco and President Joan Laporta is to try and land Liverpool's Luis Diaz. FC Barcelona should not let Fermin go for two reasons. Firstly, we can't forget how injury-prone Olmo is, while there are also few players that come racing out of the traps with such intensity with a goalscoring threat to match for Flick.
