Pep Guardiola Eyes Fermín López After Man City’s Shock Club World Cup Exit

Barcelona midfielder emerges as top target following Al-Hilal defeat, with €50m move seen as key to reshaping City’s midfield

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is ready to strengthen his squad in the wake of their stunning 4-3 extra-time defeat to Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup—with Barcelona’s Fermín López emerging as a prime target.

The Premier League champions were left reeling after their loss to the Saudi Pro League side, and Guardiola is now turning to the transfer market for reinforcements. According to reports from Fichajes, the City boss sees 22-year-old López as the ideal player to inject creativity and energy into his midfield, potentially filling the void left by Kevin De Bruyne’s departure to Napoli.

López, a rising star for both Barcelona and Spain, has impressed with his technical ability and work rate, netting 19 goals over the past two seasons. However, his future at Camp Nou is uncertain following the arrival of Nico Williams, pushing him down the pecking order. With Chelsea, Liverpool, and Atlético Madrid also circling, City are prepared to trigger his €50 million release clause—a significant markup on his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €19.5m.

For Barcelona, selling López could be the key to finally securing Williams, a deal that has stalled due to Financial Fair Play (FFP) restrictions. The Athletic winger is reportedly hesitant to join unless Barça can guarantee his registration—a hurdle that a big-money sale of López could help clear.

As the Catalan club wrestles with financial constraints, City sense an opportunity to land a player tailor-made for Guardiola’s system. With the January window looming, the race for López’s signature could intensify—and Guardiola will be hoping his former club’s struggles play into his hands.

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