Barcelona’s starting position for Chelsea transfer target Fermin Lopez is thought to be £78m according to reports.
Chelsea announced the signing of Alejandro Garnacho on Saturday, whilst they are expected to finalise a loan move for Brighton’s Facundo Buonanotte.
The Blues also like Lopez, and could add the Barcelona star to their ranks before the transfer window slams shut on Monday evening.
Barcelona’s starting point for Fermin Lopez is £78m
Chelsea had a bid believed to be worth €40m rejected for Lopez, and it remains to be seen if they will return with another offer.
Barcelona are understood to be expecting the Spain international to remain at the club, and he’s not given any indication yet that he wants to leave.
Maresca has reportedly spoken to Lopez personally, but both Barcelona and Chelsea are thought to be waiting on an answer from the player.
However, The Guardian have reported Barcelona’s starting point for Lopez is £78m, and the feeling in Spain is the Blues would need to meet them somewhere in the middle.
The report adds it’s expected to take more than £52m if Chelsea are going to convince Barcelona to part ways with the 22-year-old.
Lopez scored eight goals and registered ten assists in 48 appearances last season, and is an attacking midfielder who can also operate on both the left and right wing.
Nicolas Jackson set to return to Chelsea
In a major turn of events Chelsea have ordered Nicolas Jackson to return to London, after Liam Delap suffered a hamstring injury which could keep him out for eight weeks.
Jackson was in Munich to finalise his proposed loan move to the German champions, but Chelsea have now revoked permission for him to undergo a medical.
The 24-year-old is said to be unhappy about the situation, but unless Bayern can offer an obligation or make the move permanent , Jackson has little choice but to return as he’s contracted to Chelsea.
This is just silly. Xavi Simons WANTED to be at Chelsea, whereas Fermin has given no indication he wants away. That gives Barca considerable bargaining power in the final hours of the window and the only other options we’ve got working are virtual nobodies. Still can’t fathom what the directors were thinking. They’ve gotten so much else right this window, but they have botched this completely. We currently have one player (Pedro) to cover both the 9 and the 10 unless, that is, unless you count the now totally disgruntled Nico Jackson. We’re now talking about players in Buonanotte and Harder who have almost no experience and are nowhere near ready to step into starting positions in a squad that had hoped to finally compete for some trophies. And to top it all off, our next best option is to let ourselves be extorted by a cash-strapped Barca over a player who has expressed no interest in joining us. How did they let it come to this? How hard is it to lay out a depth chart and notice that you’ve got Pedro providing cover at two key positions and that, if you plan to sell Nkunku AND Jackson, you need another #10 or #9 or you’re just tempting fate?