Chelsea proposed to Barcelona, and the Spanish champions responded.
Details of a startling swap deal proposed by Chelsea to Barcelona have emerged, and the Catalan club has responded swiftly.
Chelsea has already been busy securing reinforcements for next season, having qualified for the Champions League and won the Conference League just days apart.
Chelsea beat off a number of Premier League clubs to recruit Liam Delap from Ipswich for £30 million, with the former Manchester City striker signing a six-year contract.
The Blues have also signed teenager Dario Essugo from Sporting CP for an estimated £18.5 million, in a deal disclosed last week.
The two-time Champions League winners are anticipated to be active in the market, and there have been reports that they approached Barcelona with an offer for midfielder Fermin Lopez.
Barcelona promptly rejects Chelsea’s swap trade proposal.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Chelsea offered trade Lopez for Christopher Nkunku, who has fallen out of favour and is expected to leave this summer.
Barcelona has been linked with the Frenchman, but according to the source, the attempt was “flatly rejected” since Hansi Flick, Joan Laporta, and other authorities still consider Lopez an essential member of his squad.
Other teams have indicated interest in the Euro 2024 champion, who does not usually start for Barcelona but competes with Dani Olmo and Gavi and has eight goals and ten assists in 46 games across tournaments.
Lopez, who signed a contract with the La Liga champions until 2029 in October and scored the title-winning goal against Espanyol, recently confirmed his decision to stay.
“I’m not thinking about leaving or anything like that,” Lopez told Tu Diras de RAC1.
“I am extremely delighted at Barcelona. It was my dream, and I definitely want to stay.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea is allegedly interested in Lopez’s Spain teammate Nico Williams.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Williams is a priority for both Chelsea and Arsenal, and they are willing to pay a high price to sign the Athletic Club star.
Lopez and Williams are both focused on helping Spain win additional trophy when they face Portugal in the Nations League final on Sunday.
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