Fermin Lopez wants Barcelona stay as Chelsea told they must pay €90m for Spanish champions to consider selling midfielder

According to Mundo Deportivo,Barcelona are adamant that Lopez is not on the market. What was initially talk of listening to offers starting at €70m (£61m/$82m) has now been upgraded to a firm demand of €90m minimum. The message is crystal clear: only a 'crazy' bid will make them budge. Sporting director Deco and coach Hansi Flick have both made their position known; Fermin is central to the project and will not be sacrificed.

Chelsea, though, are not taking no for an answer. Having lifted both the Conference League and the Club World Cup last season, they see Lopez as the jewel needed to continue their rebuild. The west London club reportedly gave the midfielder a 48-hour ultimatum to respond to their contract proposal, an offer that far exceeded his current wages at Barcelona. Yet the deadline passed without movement, leaving the Blues frustrated but not deterred. Inside Stamford Bridge, Lopez remains a priority target, even as they continue stockpiling other attacking recruits.

Lopez insists he wants to stay in Catalunya, where he finally broke into the first team and became a decisive figure last season. He has long been linked with a move to England but would rather not join a Premier League side right now.

Chelsea have already lost out on another attacking midfield target, Xavi Simons, to rivals Tottenham. It will be interesting to see if they make a play for Lopez with four days left of the window.