Barcelona do not even ‘flinch’ at Chelsea’s €40 million offer for midfielder – report | OneFootball

Hansi Flick’s press conference ahead of Barcelona’s clash against Rayo Vallecano was primarily centred around the future of Fermin Lopez, and the manager hinted that the youngster would stay.

Surprisingly, however, Chelsea submitted their first bid for the midfielder just hours after Flick’s media session.

With just days remaining on the transfer market, the La Masia star’s future could well go either way. Barcelona, however, maintain that they will not sell him unless the price is right and the player himself requests to leave.

Unperturbed by the offer

As relayed by Victor Navarro in a recent update, Barcelona were completely unfazed by Chelsea’s €40 million offer earlier today and did not even flinch at its arrival.

Indeed, the said response did not cause those at the club to even ‘flinch’.

Where will Fermin be playing next week? (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Joan Laporta and Co.’s cool response to the sudden development can only mean one of two things – the price was laughably low for Barcelona to consider, or that they have been assured by the player that he will not leave for any sum.

The very fact that Chelsea have opened the bidding may be an indication that Fermin has indicated some interest towards leaving the club. While it is contrary to what has been relayed by the media, it is not entirely impossible.

Even if Barcelona are to authorise a sale, however, the €40 million mark simply will not cut it for them as they have insisted multiple times that they will not sell him for any sum under €90 million.

With an official bid now submitted, and presumably rejected, it remains to be seen how matters develop over the next 24 hours. After all, a second bid would all but confirm that the player himself is open to leaving the club of his dreams.