Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez continues to be linked with a move away from Camp Nou, with Chelsea and Manchester United two of the sides that have been linked to him. Could he leave this summer?
Fermín López e Iñigo Martínez hacen saltar las alarmas a Hansi Flick
Image via FC Barcelona
The final stretch of the summer is just around the bend, and as the sun beats down on the Iberian peninsula, the cool breeze of a fresh season lingers in the air. It’s been hot and still in both Barcelona and Madrid for several weeks, but that does not mean to say that the two giants residing in their cities have all of their ducks in a row.
For Barcelona, that means registration trouble. With ten days to go before their La Liga opener, new signings Joan Garcia, Marcus Rashford and Roony Bardghji, as well as those handed new contracts such as Gerard Martin and Wojciech Szczesny, are not able to play. That in essence is why a selection of Europe’s finest players without guaranteed starting spots, Marc Casado, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Fermin Lopez continue to be presented by the local press as iced cupcakes in the bakery window.
Where could Fermin Lopez go?
Dealing more specifically with Lopez,Caught Offside have reported that Manchester United and Chelsea remain interested in a move for him. It is not exactly surprising that the Premier League is the most likely destination for a player blessed with large reserves of technique and tenacity, but also at €60m, Lopez is not going to break any banks in London.
Saudi Arabia have also shown some interest in Lopez too, but it would be no surprise if a few more top clubs emerged as contenders were Fermin to be on the move. The price tag that keeps getting mentioned is €60m (£52.3m) - if Fermin were a de facto starter, and were Barcelona not so short on salary limit space, a higher fee wouldn’t really be surprising.
Could Fermin leave and why are there so many stories about him leaving Barcelona?
The usual equation when you’re dealing with a transfer story is that you have three parties involved from the selling side: the club, the player and the management. With Barcelona, being unique in their model, there are a variety of powerful voices in the inner offices, and each has tendrils that connect to the local media.
The first thing to say is that an exit requires a dramatic U-turn from Lopez before the door is unlocked, let alone opened. Barcelona manager HansiFlick has been melted by Fermin’s heart and work-rate, and is delighted to keep him. The reason the stories continue to appear are a combination of Barcelona’s finances, and the very echoey room in which the Barcelona board do their talking.
As detailed by theCaught Offside report, the board are split, and there are those who believe cashing in on Lopez, with the position well covered by Dani Olmo and Gavi, would be the smart move. Were it not for their registration issues, they probably wouldn’t be considering an exit though.
Why is there so much interest in Fermin Lopez - and why is his price tag so high?
Every football player is constantly a victim and a victor of timing. Fermin is fortunate he was in preseason at the right time, with Xavi Hernandez in charge, and Barcelona short of resources. He is also slightly unlucky that he plays in the position both at club and country which is arguably deeper than any other in Europe. Had the Blaugrana had more funds last summer, they probably would have signed Nico Williams instead of Dani Olmo, and Fermin would have had a much clearer route to a starting spot.
In his specific case, Fermin is also victim of his own paradox. Growing up, Barcelona, of all clubs, harboured concerns about his size (is there a more ridiculous trope in the game?). At 19, he was sent on loan to Linares in Spain’s third tier.Far removed from the midfields caressing the ball around the pitch with technical perfection, the image Spain at times projects, that division is a bumpy route through foul play and punctuated by players willing to give hotshot talents some perspective.
El Manchester United podría presentar una oferta por Fermín
Image via Europa Press
Lopez returned after 12 goals and four assists in 37 games, but more than that, with a sinewy toughness that has defined his game since. Almost rabid in pursuit of the ball, Fermin is far rougher around the edges than your classic playmaker, and stands out for his quality off the ball as much as on it. On it, he has howitzer strike, and desire to get into the box. Fermin is every bit as scrappy as Gavi, and scurries around with an extra yard of pace when he goes hunting for the ball.
Those qualities mean that Lopez probably doesn’t receive some of the fawning afforded to his much more majestic peers, but that coarse edge makes him a rarer skillset in his position. His relentless nature and nose for goal make him more unpredictable than more academic talents.
Money-wise, the sums definitely add up. Most of the world’s best forwards these days intend to receive the ball to feet, and ideally with time to look up. Fermin thinks about the ball being with a teammate or in the back of the net within the next two or three touches, a contrast that complements most top teams, and certainly Barcelona.