FEE AGREED: Manchester United have reached total agreement to sign £60m Barcelona Star,4yrs contract to be signed – Player ready to join after final Greenlight from Barca board
Manchester United have reportedly reached a complete agreement to sign a high-profile Barcelona player for £60 million, with a four-year contract ready to be finalized. The player is eager to join the club, pending the final approval from Barcelona’s board.
After successfully signing Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro, Manchester United are now eyeing their next transfer target, Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich. The club is preparing to submit a bid for the Dutch defender, aiming to strengthen their defensive line further.
However, the focus has also shifted to another potential acquisition. According to reports from Catalan outlet Nacional, Manchester United have put forth an offer of £33.7 million for Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez. Lopez, a product of the esteemed La Masia academy, has risen to prominence under the guidance of Xavi Hernandez over the past year.
Last month, the publication SPORT reported that Manchester United initially bid £25.4 million for the promising midfielder. This initial bid was swiftly rejected by Barcelona. With the latest offer on the table, there’s skepticism about whether it will be accepted, as Barcelona is adamant about keeping the player. The Spanish giants have set a prohibitive €400 million release clause for Lopez, a clear indication that they do not intend to sell him.
Fermin Lopez, who played a minor role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, is highly regarded for his unique goal-scoring ability from midfield. Despite his talent, it is unlikely that any club will meet his astronomical release clause, which Barcelona has set to emphasize that Lopez is not for sale.
Barcelona has a long-standing tradition of nurturing and retaining homegrown talent, a practice that has continued even through recent financial challenges. The club has avoided selling their academy graduates purely for profit, showcasing their commitment to their youth development program.
In the last season, Lopez had a breakout year, scoring eight goals in La Liga. Manchester United’s current offer of £33.7 million is a reflection of their interest in the 21-year-old, but going beyond this figure might not be justifiable at this stage of his career.
As Barcelona remains firm in their stance and shows no willingness to negotiate, it might be prudent for Manchester United to redirect their efforts towards more attainable targets in the transfer market.
