Take it or leave it - Chelsea refuse to pay more than €50 million for Barça forward
As the transfer window approaches its final days, Chelsea are still trying to sign Fermín López, Barcelona's young midfielder.
The Spanish player's future is uncertain: although he would prefer to stay at the Camp Nou, the London club has been monitoring him for some time and has already submitted a bid.
Chelsea not willing to add more
According to the latest reports, via Sports, Chelsea have offered a maximum of €50 million for the 22-year-old footballer and are unwilling to increase their bid.
The club's management feels that Barcelona has set the price too high and will not exceed their own budget.
In contrast, the Catalan club values Fermín at a minimum of €90 million, with head coach Hansi Flick also seeing potential in the player. While Barça has indicated a willingness to negotiate for an offer around €70 million, Chelsea's bid falls far short of this figure.
This has resulted in a stalemate, making the most probable scenario that Fermín López will stay in Barcelona. The player himself is not pushing for a move, as he aims to establish himself as a key figure at the Catalan club in the long term.
The situation is further complicated by Gavi's injury, which could open up more playing time for Fermín in midfield. Although the potential arrival of Dani Olmo would create stiff competition, Flick may still envision a regular role for the Spanish international.
Anything can happen in the final hours of the transfer window, but it currently seems Chelsea are not prepared to pay more than €50 million for Fermín López. This means the young forward is set to spend at least the first half of the season in Barcelona.