Chelsea Circle Back: Barca Star and the Lopez setback spark winter transfer chatter

Transfer talks heat up as Chelsea circle Barca again

Arsenal appears to be heading in the same direction as Chelsea, as transfer chatter swirls around a Barcelona star after Chelsea’s failed pursuit of Fermin López.

Chelsea is reportedly renewing talks with Barcelona to land a standout player from the Catalan club, after López’s move failed to materialize.

Last summer, Chelsea pushed hard to sign Fermin López, 22, but the midfielder chose to remain at Barcelona.

López told AS that he received a terrific offer to move to London, but he had no intention of leaving, and Barcelona apparently did not want to sell him either.

Before that failed bid, Chelsea had shown interest in Marc Casado, 22, whose potential had led the club to pivot when López emerged as a priority.

Now, with the winter window approaching and the López gamble fading, the idea of signing the Catalan midfielder has resurfaced.

According to Mundo Deportivo via the Daily Briefing, Chelsea is preparing a bid of around €35 million to sign Marc Casado.

Arsenal is also said to be tracking the Spaniard, aiming to beat Chelsea to his signature.

Casado’s standing at Barcelona has waned in coach Hans Flick’s plans, with the youngster finding limited time in the first team this season.

For example, he was not given a minute in the Sánchez-Pizjuán clash with Sevilla, a 4-1 defeat that raised questions about his role amid fatigue and injuries.

Casado remains a Barça academy product who loves the club and hopes to succeed, but the current milieu may push him toward a shirt swap if an offer lands on the table.

He joined La Masia in 2016 at age 13 and quickly progressed, captaining youth squads to a youth league title in 2020-21.

In summer 2022, Casado extended his Barcelona contract to 2028 and featured for Barça Atlètic in the third tier before making a first-team breakthrough later on.

His Barça first-team debut came in a Champions League match against Viktoria Plzeň after an injury to Franck Kessié, featuring as a substitute for the Ivorian.

Since then he has become a regular in the squad during the 2024-2025 season under Flick, operating mainly as a defensive midfielder with strong distribution and movement.

He is also noted for his leadership on the pitch, showing maturity beyond his years.

In March 2025 he suffered a knee injury described as a partial tear of the right knee’s lateral collateral ligament, sidelining him for roughly two months; Barca opted for a conservative treatment plan given his importance to the squad.

Casado has won the 2024-2025 La Liga title with Barça, plus the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, and Barca reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Barça suffered a heavy 4-1 loss to Sevilla just before the international break, a result that added pressure on the squad.

They sit second in La Liga, two points behind Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Camp Nou… a return is awaited as renovations continue, with talk of hosting more matches at Montjuïc.

Barça are set to host Olympiakos at Montjuïc in the Champions League ahead of the Clasico against Real Madrid, continuing to use Montjuïc and Johan Cruyff as home venues.

Barça have not played at Camp Nou for more than two seasons due to ongoing renovations, with no final date in sight.

Punchline 1: If Chelsea signs Casado, Barcelona might finally start selling season tickets with the fine print: no refunds for patience.

Punchline 2: And if Arsenal join in, the Premier League risks becoming so Spanish it comes with a tapas menu on matchday.