Exclusive: Chelsea Confident of Luring Barcelona Starlet Fermin Lopez in January

Chelsea are quietly confident they can resurrect a deal to sign Barcelona wonderkid Fermin Lopez when the January transfer window opens, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The Blues narrowly missed out signing the highly-rated 22-year-old attacker, thwarted in their attempts to sign him on transfer deadline day.

But despite missing out on the youngster earlier this month, our sources have learnt the West London outfit are ready to lodge a much-improved over when the next transfer window opens on 1st January.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is understood to be a big admirer of the blossoming Spain international and was frustrated he couldn’t sign him before the window closed.

A frustrating hamstring injury to new star striker Liam Delap saw the Blues prompted into trying to sign Lopez to bolster their attack.

But Spanish giants Barca wouldn’t budge on a deal and have stressed the player is not for sale.

However, Chelsea believe they have enough spending power to tempt Barca into doing a deal.

EXCITING TALENT

Lopez is widely-regarded as one of the most promising young players in Europe at the minute, with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United having also been linked with a potential move for the player.

The Blues are believed to have offered £35million for Lopez’s services, as well as significant add-ons, but despite their best efforts to sign him, the midfielder has stayed in Spain.

He has made a bright start to the new La Liga season, scoring twice in three games.

Chelsea spent big this summer and recruited star signings including Jamies Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho and Estevao.

The Blues have subsequently been linked with Marc Bernal, another Barcelona young gun.

Brighton, Everton, Roma and Valencia have all been linked with Bernal, but our sources have learnt that Maresca is not finished with his expensive recruitment drive – and Lopez remains firmly on his hit list.