Manchester United have made an offer close to €80m to sign Fermin Lopez from Barcelona
Last season was nothing less than a nightmare for Manchester United. The team finished in 15th place in the Premier League, lost to Tottenham in the Europa League final and now, in the new season, they are out of Europe as well. There were some hopes by bringing Ruben Amorim in the middle of the previous season, but the picture did not change, at least in 2024/25.
This season, the start was also dull, and they had to face a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the very first match. At one point, the initial rhythm was visible, but due to Altay Bayindir’s mistake, Riccardo Calafiori scored a goal, and the team fell behind.
Benjamin Sesko’s arrival brought some pace, Bryan Mbeumo created two chances, but the equaliser did not come. Now the situation is such that the club already have options like Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes and newly signed Bryan Mbeumo in the attacking midfield. Still, Barcelona’s young midfielder Fermín López remained the centre of discussion for the Red Devils.
Reports and confusion about Fermín López
Manchester United have made an offer close to €80m to sign Fermin Lopez from Barcelona .
According to a report from SPORT, Barcelona were offered around €80m by both Manchester United and Chelsea in late July for the Spaniard. The news was that both clubs were determined to sign Fermín López, and negotiations had also started. At that time, Barcelona’s financial situation were such that they were facing difficulty in registering players, so many board members of the club were in favour of accepting this offer. Such a huge amount would have proved to be helpful for them, and the deal seemed quite possible.
Then, suddenly, the picture changed when coach Hansi Flick stopped this move. He considered the attacking midfielder an important part of his project and said that he should not be sold under any circumstances. Flick believed that the 22-year-old would be important for the team both now and in the future. This intervention was so decisive that the entire deal stopped there, and Barcelona did not let Fermín go.
Fermín’s role is also interesting because he is an attacking midfielder but can also be used on the flanks or in the centre. This versatile player was a big attraction for clubs like United and Chelsea, but the move from United raises questions because they have already invested in Cunha and Mbeumo, and also have Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount for that role. In such a situation, the bid of €80m looks very confusing. We reported this earlier in our blog as well.
From Fermín López’s point of view, Flick’s intervention is a double-edged sword for him. On the one hand, it shows his importance that the coach does not want to let him go, but on the other hand, it also limits his career options. If the Spaniard had gone to a club like United, he would have got the bigger platform of the Premier League and a different path of development.
From Manchester United’s point of view, this move was incomprehensible. Spending so much on Fermín after the arrival of Cunha and Mbeumo in the attacking midfield already seems like a strategic mistake. The team’s biggest weakness is a lack of a defensive midfielder and a world-class goalkeeper, and hence, if they had to invest such a big amount and have the money, they should invest in these positions.
The question finally arises: would Fermín really be invaluable to United? Probably yes, as his versatility could have increased the depth of the team, but looking at the current needs, United need stability more than creativity. That’s why it was a blessing in disguise that Barcelona did not approve the Fermin transfer. In other news, Manchester United star Rasmus Hojlund is eyeing a move to Serie A despite interest from Fulham.