Pep Guardiola doesn't give up, the Santpedor coach has once again set his sights on one of Barça's most valued gems. After seeing how the blaugrana club closed the door on him for Dani Olmo, the Manchester City manager has changed his target. Now, he wants to sign one of the biggest revelations of the season: Fermín López.
The midfielder from Huelva has won over Camp Nou with outstanding performances; his grit, ability to get into the box, and commitment have made him an important piece for Hansi Flick. Not for nothing, he has been one of the most used players by the Egarense coach in the final stretch of the campaign. A homegrown player who has more than delivered every time he has been draftedon.
Josep Guardiola, always alert to any talent emerging from La Masia, already has detailed reports on Fermín. He likes his versatility, his ability to play in several midfield positions, and above all, his winning mentality. For City, he would be a bet for both the present and the future; they are willing to make a firm offer.
Fermín is Pep Guardiola's target
At Barça, however, they don't want to part with Fermín; the sporting management considers him a homegrown jewel. In addition, his profile fits perfectly with the club's new policy: betting on young talent, trained at home, and with potential. Joan Laporta and Deco understand that selling him would be a hard blow for the fans and for the sporting project.
The problem, as always, is Financial Fair Play; Barça needs income, and offers like Manchester City's could shake up the initial plans. According to sources close to the matter, the English side would be willing to offer between €35 and €40 million (about $38M–$43M). A figure that would make more than one person at the club's offices think twice.
He's happy at Barça
For now, there haven't been any official contacts, but Fermín's camp is already aware of Guardiola's team's interest. Although the player is happy at Barça, he is also aware that a call from a giant like Manchester City could be a train that's hard to turn down. This is even clearer if Pep Guardiola himself insists on having him.
From England, they claim that Guardiola wants to renew his squad with young players hungry for titles, and the Andalusian fits that profile perfectly. At 21 years old, he has already shown maturity, quality, and leadership. His progress has been meteoric, and at Manchester City, they believe he still has room for improvement.
Meanwhile, Barça plans to offer him a contract improvement; currently, Fermín has a €400 million (about $432M) release clause. The Andalusian understands that his salary is far below that of other teammates. The club wants to secure him, reward his performance, and avoid temptations from outside. The case is at a standstill, but Guardiola hasn't given up and is going after Fermín.