Fermín could become one of the key names of the summer at Barça. The Andalusian midfielder, after a standout season with strong performances coming off the bench, is on the radar of several major European clubs. Barça's need to free up salary cap space to register Rashford, who's arriving on loan, and Joan García could lead to Fermín's departure.
The sporting management values the player, but they also know that his departure could make it easier to plan Flick's squad. His profile, with a great ability to get into the box and a highly valued capacity to break lines, makes him especially attractive to Premier League clubs. In a market where Barça needs to balance its books, no scenario is being ruled out.
Overbooking in the midfield
One of the keys to understanding Fermín's situation is the number of players available in midfield. Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, and Dani Olmo are considered the likely starters. In addition to them are Fermín himself, Marc Casado, Marc Bernal, and Gavi.
In total, seven players for only three spots in the German coach's usual system. This saturation of options in midfield forces the club to make decisions. Besides tactical issues, there's the matter of salaries.
Chelsea and United on the prowl
Fermín's excellent performance hasn't gone unnoticed in Europe. Both Chelsea and Manchester United are closely monitoring his situation. Both clubs believe the Andalusian would fit perfectly into their sporting projects, and they've made preliminary moves to gauge the possibility of signing him.
At Barça, the direct competition he faces with Dani Olmo in the attacking midfield could reduce his chances of playing a leading role, something that could influence his decision.
Guardiola also interested
According to El Nacional, not only Premier League clubs are after the Andalusian. Napoli, Serie A champion, has also inquired about his situation. The most surprising interest has reportedly come from Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
The coach is closely following the progress of Barça's players, and he has reportedly given the green light to explore a possible signing of Fermín. The summer will be long, Fermín's future is still open. Barça doesn't want to let him go, but if a significant offer arrives, it could be considered.