Barcelona Sets Two Non-Negotiable Demands for Fermin Lopez's Chelsea Move

Barcelona Sets Two Non-Negotiable Demands for Fermin Lopez's Chelsea Move

Barcelona will only entertain offers for Fermín López from Chelsea if the Blues present a minimum bid of €70 million (£60.5 million, $81.5 million) and the midfielder personally requests the transfer, according to Spanish media reports.

López has been frequently mentioned in connection with various Premier League moves this summer, with Manchester United initially showing interest before Chelsea's more serious pursuit became apparent in recent weeks.

Such a departure could frustrate head coach Hansi Flick, despite the 22-year-old not being a regular starter under the German tactician. López has proven to be an invaluable substitute and possesses the flexibility to operate across multiple positions. Throughout his varied appearances in different roles and competitions, López contributed an outstanding eight goals and 10 assists during the previous campaign.

This talent has allegedly caught Chelsea's attention. The London club is believed to be engaged in discussions regarding a potential transfer and has now been informed that Barcelona demands a minimum offer of €70 million, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The defending La Liga champions have established this price point by examining recent Premier League transactions for players they consider comparable in quality to López, who might still need to formally request a move to Stamford Bridge for negotiations to progress. Bayern Munich invested €70 million to secure Luis Díaz from Liverpool, while Bryan Mbeumo (€75 million) and Matheus Cunha (€74.2 million) both commanded fees exceeding López's suggested valuation when joining Manchester United.

Barcelona are not believed to be actively promoting a sale, though their ongoing financial constraints mean they could not realistically reject a substantial offer. Flick holds a contrasting perspective.

"It will be a challenging season. We require every squad member," the former Bayern Munich boss firmly stated during a direct press conference this past weekend.

"I can only reiterate my previous comments - I don't wish to lose any players at this time, as we face a demanding season ahead. Fermín possesses this quality, he has performed excellently since last season and continues to do so as we begin this new campaign. I am satisfied with him and our squad, and I want to retain everyone because we are content with our current options."