Manchester City had a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, falling well short of their usual high standards. It has already triggered several changes within the squad, with more expected to follow as the club looks to get back to their best.
Getting knocked out of the Club World Cup in the round of 16 at the hands of Al-Hilal hasn’t done them any good either. Frustrated by the performances of his team, Pep Guardiola is looking to add more quality to their squad. He is on the lookout for a new midfielder, and according to a report from Fichajes, the Spanish manager has asked for the signing of Fermin Lopez.
The 22-year-old joined the Barcelona youth setup back in 2016. He went up the ranks at some pace and got promoted to their first team in the summer of 2023. While he has established himself as a key figure in the squad, he has struggled for minutes in a squad that is stacked with quality.
While he was involved in 46 matches last season and contributed towards 18 goals, the Spanish international was on the pitch for just over 2,000 minutes. If Barcelona do end up signing Nico Williams in the ongoing transfer window, Lopez’s game time could take another hit.
As a result, his future seems to be up in the air, and Manchester City could look to make the most out of this opportunity. With Kevin De Bruyne leaving the club, City certainly need more quality in the centre of the park.
While they have signed Rayan Cherki, Guardiola is keen on having Lopez as well. The Spanish manager believes the 22-year-old could be an ideal fit for his system, and he could become a key part of their project going forward.
Lopez prefers playing as a number ten, but he is capable enough to feature on either flank as well as a central midfielder. His versatility could give Guardiola a lot of tactical flexibility. The former Barcelona coach is pushing for the signing of the La Masia graduate.
City have started working on a potential transfer, and the report suggests the Spanish midfielder could be available for a fee of around €50 million. The Premier League giants are more than willing to pay that kind of a fee for him if he gives the green light to the move. Barcelona could let him leave as it would help them raise much-needed funds to bolster other areas.
