"I will stay here (at Barcelona) forever," Fermin Lopez said, even as Chelsea, Paris Saint Germain and Manchester United continue to be linked with him. The Barcelona midfielder is 23 years old and has 5 goals and 4 assists in 12 appearances this season, which is exactly why the noise around him has not gone away.

Barcelona pull and the numbers behind it

Fermin's production is part of the reason he is attracting attention. He has 4 goals and 3 assists in 9 La Liga appearances, with a 7.36 rating, and he has also added 1 goal and 1 assist in the Champions League. Across all competitions, his total stands at 5 goals and 4 assists.

He is also fighting for minutes in a crowded part of the pitch. Fermin is competing with Dani Olmo for a starting place in Barcelona's attacking midfield, and the club's situation does not make him look easy to replace. Barcelona are top of La Liga, while PSG are preparing an offer worth around €80 million and Chelsea have already made a previous approach, including in the summer of 2025.

United's enquiry and the market around him

Manchester United's position is a little different. Matteo Moretto said the club has inquired about Fermin and Pablo Barrios, but there is "no negotiation, just an enquiry". That is a long way from a deal, yet it still adds another heavyweight name to the list of clubs following him.

Fermin has also spoken with a much more personal line about Barcelona, saying: "I've always wanted to be here; it's always been my dream, and now that I'm here, I'm trying to enjoy it to the full and make it last as long as God wills." Barcelona renewed his contract until June 2031 in January earlier this year, so any move would need to clear both the player's stance and the club's reluctance to lose him.

The market interest is real, but so is the player's message. Barcelona go into the rest of the season with a 23-year-old midfielder producing and talking like someone who wants to stay put.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →