Barcelona star Fermin Lopez will make a public statement on his future on Friday. The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea this week, while Newcastle United have also shown interest in the Spain international.
Earlier this week it transpired that Chelsea had contacted Lopez over a potential move, and that he was considering a departure. The London side were willing to offer him a bigger role and more and double his salary. Barcelona have reportedly set a €90m asking price on his head, one which Newcastle are willing to meet.
Despite reports from Catalonia saying that Lopez remains keen to stay at Barcelona, on Friday he requested permission from the club to negotiate with Chelsea. He is thought to be considering their offer, but it is not yet clear whether the Blues are willing to stump up the money for him.
According to Sport, Fermin Lopez intends to make a statement on his future on Friday afternoon/evening, in which he will declare if he is to remain at the club, or has decided to leave. This comes after a week of intense speculation surrounding him.
While Lopez ended last season as one of the most valued players at Barcelona, the fact that he is theoretically behind big-money signing Dani Olmo has worked against him. There are those at the club who are ready to sanction a sale in order to dig the club out of their salary limit hold they find themselves in due to financial mismanagement. The touting of his services has hurt him, and it appears that a dressing room spat has also distanced him from some of his former friends within it.
Noble1
30
Let's wait for Fermin's statement later today. I think Chelsea has done enough to convince him to come on board. Even abandoning the chase for Xavi Simons speaks volumes about how Chelsea values him. But again, the final decision lies with Fermin. But Chelsea as a club aren't under any pressure to spend crazy money on any one at this point. We already brought Garnacho in to compete with Gittens on the left wing, which is a good piece of business at £40 million. So I don't necessarily think Chelsea are in desperate need to pay crazy money for a midfielder at this point. We have to respect Barcelona as a club and also the players decision. That is the way it is. But let's see how it pans out.
ricabelptu
21
am happy Simon didn't come to Chelsea coz we are tired of RB products they don't yield at Bridge
Wehabdmou
19
We're going to buy Fermin Lopez and use him against barca in the champions league to beat them.