Fermín López's future at Barcelona is more uncertain than ever after a season in which he stepped up. The young midfielder established himself as one of the squad's biggest surprises, but he now faces a complicated situation with Hansi Flick's consolidation on the bench. All of this is without considering Joan Laporta and Deco's restructuring plans for the transfer market.
The almost finalized signing of Nico Williams requires adjustments both in the squad and in the club's financial management. Flick is clear about the play style he wants to implement. Although he values Fermín López's talent, the competition in midfield and the need to generate revenue could push him onto the list of departures.
Clubs compete for Fermín
Fermín's situation hasn't gone unnoticed in Europe. According to sources close to the Catalan club, Barça already has three formal offers on the table: Liverpool and Arsenal from the Premier League, and Bayer Leverkusen from the Bundesliga. The offers reach €50 million ($54.4 million), a figure that, under other circumstances, wouldn't be considered.
However, Barça's delicate financial situation means the board is carefully studying each option. Joan Laporta believes that a sale of this magnitude could be key to freeing up the wage bill and meeting the requirements of financial fair play. In addition, Deco is already working on other deals that would allow the squad to be strengthened in different positions, which adds pressure to make a quick decision.
Key decision in the coming days
Hansi Flick finds it difficult to guarantee Fermín the minutes he demands to keep growing and doesn't rule out that his departure could be the best solution for all parties. Meanwhile, the player continues to prioritize staying at Barça and fulfilling his dream of succeeding in the first team. However, he is aware that a lack of continuity could also harm his aspirations with the Spanish national team ahead of the next World Cup.
The blaugrana board knows they can't prolong this situation much longer. The interested clubs expect a response in the coming days and are willing to close the deal as soon as possible so Fermín can join their respective preseason camps. If Barça ultimately accepts one of the offers, the deal would represent a significant income.