Fabrizio Romano: Barcelona ‘to sign’ Fermín López to 2031 as Sunderland links fade | OneFootball

Fabrizio Romano says Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement on a new long-term deal for Fermín López, running to June 2031, with a pay rise and signatures expected this week.

The midfielder rejected leaving in August, and the update effectively shuts down the tenuous links to Sunderland.

Fichajes reported at the weekend that Sunderland were monitoring the 22-year-old and even floated a £69.3million bid, a sum that would more than double the club’s transfer record, set by Habib Diarra’s £30million move.

López signed his first professional deal with Barcelona Atlètic in August 2022, then spent 2022-23 on loan at Linares, scoring 12 in 40 and standing out in the Primera Federación.

Strong pre-season form earned him a senior place for 2023-24, highlighted by a goal and an assist against Real Madrid. He debuted in La Liga that August and scored in domestic and European competition, including a Champions League goal against Shakhtar Donetsk that earned man-of-the-match.

He later contributed to Barcelona’s domestic treble in 2024-25, and earlier this campaign became the club’s first Spanish player since 1986 to hit a Champions League hat-trick.

"If someone is playing even semi-regularly for Barcelona then are they willing to leave that and come to the Premier League and Sunderland?" he asked on BBC Radio Newcastle earlier this month. "If they are thinking of players of that calibre and standing, then you would like to think it is reflected in the other avenues they are pursuing in terms of signings."

Source: Sunderland Echo