Barcelona raise their minimum price for midfield star to €90 million amid Chelsea interest | OneFootball

There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the future of Barcelona attacking midfielder Fermin Lopez over the past couple of days, with Chelsea making their interest in the player known.

The 22-year-old La Masia graduate has been contemplating the possibility of making the switch, while Barça, for their part, were understood to be open to a departure if an offer of around €70 million arrived.

Barcelona want €90 million now

However, there has been a fresh development as far as Barcelona’s stance with Fermin Lopez is concerned.

Indeed, according to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have made their position clear on Fermin Lopez: he is not for sale.

The Catalan club are aware that Chelsea have been exploring a move for the 22-year-old ace, and that the player himself has experienced moments of doubt. Yet Barça’s stance is so firm that they have even increased his price.

Fermin will only be sold for €90 million. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

If yesterday the minimum figure for his departure was set at €70 million, today it stands at €90 million. In doing so, Barça are signalling that they have no intention of letting one of their key players leave.

Of course, the situation could change if Fermin were to accept Chelsea’s offer and if the Premier League side were to meet such a fee. The ball is now in the court of both the player and the English club.

Inside Barça, neither head coach Hansi Flick nor sporting director Deco wants to lose a midfielder who proved decisive last season in securing the domestic treble.

At the same time, the La Liga champions are not intent on shutting the door completely: should Fermin wish to leave, it would only be under one condition – that Chelsea present an offer simply too good to refuse.

However, reports suggest that the Blues are not willing to spend more than €69 million on Fermin, making a move unlikely.