Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final on Sunday night, securing their title as world champions. The Blues are now looking to further bolster their squad ahead of next season after finishing the 24/25 campaign with two trophies under Enzo Maresca's leadership. Even though they have already made some major signings, they are now pursuing a few more.
Chelsea are believed to be currently looking to add more quality to their midfield. And they might look towards Barcelona for that.
As reported by Fichajes, Chelsea are willing to make an offer exceeding €50 million for Fermin Lopez, convinced that the competition he will face at Barcelona with players like Dani Olmo could open a window of opportunity. The Spaniard is fully focused on succeeding at Camp Nou, but he is also open to considering alternatives if his prominence diminishes.
Since being promoted to Barcelona's first-team, Lopez has only gotten better. The 22-year-old made a name for himself with his outstanding performances last season, despite not being a regular starter under Hansi Flick. He scored 8 goals and provided 10 assists in 46 matches across all competitions. He only featured for 2039 minutes. Elite output for a midfielder.
Chelsea ready to make €50m-plus offer for Barcelona midfielder
Lopez has four years left on his contract with Barcelona, and they have no plans of discussing his departure. The club believe he might become one of their pillars in the future.
However, it appears that Chelsea are hoping to capitalise on the fact that the Spanish club cannot guarantee him a starting role, and there is no immediate prospect of that improving next season. Remember, Olmo dealt with multiple injuries this season and is only expected to feature more often moving forward.
Furthermore, everybody is aware of the La Liga club's ongoing financial difficulties. As a result, they are always likely to consider satisfactory offers.
There is no doubt that Lopez would be an excellent addition to the team, but convincing Barcelona will be difficult because they are aware of the player's potential. And the 22-year-old is unlikely to leave his boyhood club unless absolutely convinced that it is the right step. Can Chelsea pull it off?