Barcelona star Fermin Lopez became a priority target for Chelsea at the very end of the last transfer window.
Unfortunately for Enzo Maresca, though, Chelsea never managed to agree a fee with Barcelona for their attacking midfielder.
In fact, it has been claimed that Barcelona did not even respond to the offer that they received from their English counterparts.
Chelsea were still able to bring in a new No.10 on deadline day, however, signing Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty ImagesChelsea decide to keep Fermin Lopez on transfer shortlist
Lopez to Chelsea could still be one to watch in the future, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano not ruling out the Blues making another move for him.
According to Romano, Chelsea have decided to keep Lopez’s name on their shortlist.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: “What I can add to you today is that Fermin Lopez will stay on the list of Chelsea for the future. He’s a player who was already on the list one year ago, remained on the list this summer and will be on the list in the future.”
Romano also revealed that Barcelona value Lopez at around €80m (£69.4m), which is double what Chelsea were offering for the 22-year-old.
It would be a lot of money to spend on a player who is not guaranteed to start in his favoured position.
It had been reported that Chelsea were ready to hand Lopez a big role, but with Cole Palmer being the first-choice attacking midfielder in Maresca’s squad, the Spaniard was not going to be a starter in the No.10 position.
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesFermin Lopez’s conversation with Lamine Yamal about Chelsea
Understandably, Chelsea’s interest in Lopez was the talk of the Barcelona dressing room.
Lopez was asked by Lamine Yamal and others what was going on, with the Barcelona superstar sharing that conversation.
“He’s fine and happy as always,” Yamal said. “At Barca, if someone leaves, it’s their decision. We’re a young, united group where there are no problems between us, and we enjoy the club we’re at.
“I don’t think anyone wants to leave. We jokingly asked him what was going on with England, but he told us he wanted to stay, that he was happy.”
Lopez made 46 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona last season, so Hansi Flick will be glad that the Spain international did not push for a move.
Only 12 of those appearances were starts in La Liga, though. If that number does not go up this term, things could quickly change. Lopez’s situation is certainly something to monitor going into the new year.