Pep Guardiola Has Asked Manchester City To Sign Barcelona Attacking Midfielder: Is He A Good Pick? | OneFootball

Manchester City ended the 2024/25 season with more shadows than highlights. The team that used to command respect and deliver results in the Premier League was outplayed at key moments, letting slip matches and points that in other seasons seemed guaranteed. Their elimination in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup against Al-Hilal only made matters worse. Pep Guardiola’s discontent was clear in his gestures and words, aware that the squad needed a shake-up to get back on track. The summer looks set to be a busy one at the Etihad Stadium, where important departures and arrivals are already being considered.

Pep Guardiola Has Asked Manchester City To Sign Fermín López

One of those deals has a name: Fermín López. According to Fichajes, Guardiola has put forward the idea of going after the young Barcelona talent. The coach wants to add creativity and freshness to the midfield after the departure of Kevin De Bruyne, a void that cannot be filled by just anyone.

Fermín, 22-year-old, has shown his quality in the Barça first team, although internal competition has limited his playing time. He played in 46 matches and was involved in 18 goals, but his actual time on the pitch did not reach 2,100 minutes. A transfer to City would be around €50 million, an acceptable figure for the English club if the player agrees. The Catalan club, for their part, could consider the sale to strengthen other key areas of the team.

Opinion:

Now, how decisive would the signing of Fermín López be in restoring Manchester City’s lost hegemony? First, there is no doubt that De Bruyne’s departure leaves a hole that will be difficult to fill, but Fermín has attributes that give cause for optimism. His vision, mobility between the lines and ability to appear as a finisher are reminiscent, with all due respect, of the best midfielders of the Guardiola era.

In addition, he is not limited to playing as a playmaker: he can act as an inside forward and even on the wing, adapting to variable formations. That versatility would give Pep a rich tactical palette, something essential to overcome closed defences, a recurring problem this year. However, investing £50 million in a player who has not yet established himself as an undisputed starter raises questions.

City are not in the habit of skimping if they firmly believe in a player, and everything points to Guardiola having full confidence in Fermín’s potential. The key will be to convince the player that he will get more playing time and a more important role in Manchester. On the other hand, Barça has a lot at stake: letting go of a product of La Masía always generates debate, especially when the squad need income to fund operations.

Our feeling is that if City manage to sign Fermín, they will gain dynamism and a future. He won’t immediately replace everything De Bruyne brought to the table, but he does offer a new spark that the Etihad has been asking for for some time. At that price, it could be a bold and reasonable gamble. We will have to see if Laporta and Deco decide to open the door or prefer to retain one of the few young players with star potential.