Chelsea ready to pay €140m for Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez, reports say

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has identified Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez as a key target for his project, according to El Nacional.

The report says Alonso plans to call Lopez personally as he attempts to persuade the 23-year-old to become one of the central figures in a rebuilt Chelsea side.

Barcelona do not want to sell the midfielder, but the club could be prepared to open negotiations in the winter if Chelsea make a sufficiently substantial offer.

According to the same source, Chelsea would be willing to pay €140m for the transfer.

Lopez’s current contract with Barcelona runs until the end of the 2030/31 season.