Club demand Chelsea get back to old spending habits to land midfield target before deadline
Chelsea have been linked with a move for the player for a while as Enzo Maresca weighs up his options
Chelsea won 2-0 at home to Fulham this weekend after goals by Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez. They have won two of their first three Premier League fixtures. Enzo Maresca’s side are back in action after the international break with an away trip to Brentford.
In the meantime, they have the chance to sign some more players. They also have the opportunity to let some individuals head out the exit door if needed. The deadline is on Monday at 7pm.
Chelsea update regarding Fermin Lopez
According to Mundo Deportivo, Chelsea target Fermin Lopez is valued at around £60million by Barcelona. The Blues have been linked with the player for a while now. They will need to fork out big money if they are to lure him to Stamford Bridge.
Lopez, 22, has been with Barca since joining them back in 2016. Prior to his move, he spent time on the books of fellow La Liga outfit Real Betis. He has since risen up through the ranks at Camp Nou and was initially a key player for the B team before breaking into the first-team picture.
The Spain international, who has two caps to his name so far in his career, was loaned out to Linares in 2022 to get some experience. Upon his return, he has become a useful squad player for the senior team. He has made 89 appearances in all competitions to date and he has chipped in with 19 goals, eight of which came last term.
Will Chelsea sign Fermin Lopez?
Chelsea need to pay a hefty fee to sign Lopez from Barcelona. It remains to be seen at this stage whether they will match his valuation. The clock is ticking between now and the end of the transfer window.
Lopez is still young and has potential to get better down the line. He would be a solid long-term option for the Blues if they managed to get him. In addition, he would inject more quality into their options in the middle of the park.
Speaking after their victory over Fulham, striker Pedro, who joined from Brighton and Hove Albion earlier this summer, said: “I’m very happy to help the team and I’m really pleased to start [the season] in this way,’ the striker said shortly after full-time. There is a lot of work to do though, it’s very early in the season, and I know I need to keep working hard to keep helping the team.
“We’re really happy with the start to the season we’ve made and it gives us something to build on. We came into this game with a lot of confidence after a good win [at West Ham] but credit to Fulham, they made it difficult for us. It was very difficult for us in the beginning, especially in the first half, but we kept fighting, worked hard and got the rewards in the end. In the second half, I thought we played very well as a team and deserved the victory.”