Chelsea are evaluating the possibility of a move for Barcelona midfielder Fermin López, according to The Athletic.
The West Londoners have made contact with the representatives of López and are considering making a move to secure his signature in case of exits.
The Blues have previously been linked with Xavi Simons but have also added the Spaniard to their radar.
López’s contract runs through to 2029, after which the midfielder signed a new deal in October 2024, which extended his existing contract by a further two years.
He has frequently played in a central role during his time at Barcelona, and he has looked a threat in the final third when deployed in a midfield role.
Breaking into the starting XI regularly for the La Liga side won’t be easy due to their depth in his position.
The Spanish club might be willing to sell, if it is for an important fee, because of their financial problems.
The 22-year-old has made 89 appearances for the Spanish giants, netting 19 times and providing 11 assists.
He made his senior debut for Spain in June 2024 and has made one appearance since then.
In July 2024, he was selected in the Spain U-23 squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
He and Spain would go on to win the Olympic gold medal at the men’s football event in the Olympics.
López scored six goals (including two against France in the final) and became the second-best goalscorer of the tournament (only behind Soufiane Rahimi).
It’s been a busy summer transfer window for the Premier League side so far, strengthening the squad with new players and a mass exodus of players.
Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato, and Liam Delap are among the senior players to have arrived through the door, while we’ve also seen the likes of Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and, more recently, Carney Chukwuemeka depart.
Chelsea looked impressive last time out against West Ham United, winning 5-1 away from home, but they are in the hunt for further reinforcements over the coming days before the window closes.