Chelsea never offered more than €40 million for Barcelona star despite talks of higher proposals | OneFootball

Reports from MARCA have shed light on the truth behind Chelsea’s supposed pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez.

Despite all the noise in the press and the rumours of massive offers, the reality was far less dramatic.

As such, Chelsea’s interest never went beyond an initial message, and even then, their valuation of the player didn’t exceed €40 million.

As the transfer window drew to a close, speculation around Fermin’s future began to intensify.

Some painted a picture of a move being close, with figures as high as €50–58 million thrown around.

Yet, in reality, nothing concrete ever materialised. Chelsea’s interest was genuine but lukewarm, and Barcelona never came close to entertaining it.

What’s the story?

The story began more than a month before deadline day, when Deco received an email from Chelsea. The message expressed admiration for Fermin and hinted at a possible bid of around €40 million.

Chelsea never agreed to pay more than €40 million for Fermin. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

Deco did not even bother replying because the proposal was simply too low to merit discussion, given the importance Fermin holds in Barcelona’s plans.

What followed was a flurry of media buzz. Reports eventually exaggerated Chelsea’s supposed willingness to pay over €50 million, but these figures didn’t match the reality at Stamford Bridge.

In fact, sources close to the English club dismissed the idea of paying such an amount, with one response summed up as: “Too much money for that kid.”

What about Barcelona?

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s position was always clear. Even though the club continues to battle financial restrictions, they see Fermin as a valuable asset for the future.

While the €90 million release clause became a talking point, insiders suggest Barça would only have considered a figure closer to €70 million, far from what Chelsea were willing to discuss.

In the end, Fermin himself never pushed for an exit. His heart was always at Barcelona, even if the lack of minutes occasionally made him pause.

The so-called Chelsea saga ultimately fizzled out into nothing more than exaggerated rumours.