'My priority' - Player Chelsea didn't sign in summer window opens up on transfer links

A plyer Chelsea reportedly held talks over signing has now spoken about how the summer transfer window played out. The Blues had a busy transfer window, though much of their business was concentrated at the start and end of the window.

Enzo Maresca and the club’s recruitment staff brought in three forwards early on, and attention then turned to selling players in a bid to stay within UEFA spending guidelines on the back of a big fine and threat of a bigger one.

On the final day of the window, Chelsea brought back Marc Guiu to allow Nicolas Jackson to leave, and they also snapped up creative midfielder Facundo Buonanotte on a loan deal from Brighton. Alejandro Garnacho was also signed during the final week of the window.

One player Chelsea did not end up signing is Fermin Lopez, who was heavily linked with a departure from Barcelona due to reduced playing time last season that saw him start only 14 games.

It was always going to take a big fee to get Lopez out of Barca, and one Chelsea were likely to be unable to pay this summer without another big sale.

But Lopez says he was always keen to remain a Barcelona player, telling Mundo Deportivo: “Well, in the end, my priority has always been to be at Barça. I arrived when I was 12; it was my dream to be here, to be able to reach the first team. It's always a compliment when there's interest from other clubs, but the truth is, I always had the idea of ​​staying at Barça and being able to succeed here.

“There's been a lot of speculation about all this, but I must say: my priority has always been to be at Barça, and I never doubted being here. I've always felt I wanted to be here, to try to succeed, and to help the club. As always, 200%. Since I arrived at 12 years old, I've always been committed to this club. It was my dream; I've worked hard to be here, and this year we're all here, giving 200 percent, as I told you, to be able to bring lots of joy to the Culés.”

Asked about the conversations he had with Hansi Flick, Lopez added: “You know the conversations with the coach are private. Yes, we had them. We both trust each other, he in me and I in him. If we're all united this year, we can have a good season too.”

There was some speculation that Lopez had fallen out with fellow La Masia academy graduate Gavi, but the was keen to put that to bed. “Gavi has been my friend since I was 12” added the midfielder. “I've known him since my time at Betis, but since I joined La Masia, he's been my friend, like my brother. We've shared a lot. People always speculate, this won't change, but he's still my friend. We have a good relationship, as always, and I have nothing more to say about that.”

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