Hansi Flick has requested changes, Deco is making moves, and Joan Laporta needs to balance the numbers. All at the same time.
Amid this sporting and financial storm, there are names gaining prominence for their sporting value... and for their financial value. One of them is, without a doubt, Fermín López.
The Andalusian midfielder was one of the positive notes of last season. Commitment, attacking presence, goals, physicality... He has everything needed to shine.
But sometimes, that's not enough to stay. At Can Barça, they know it. Nico Williams's arrival will disrupt Hansi Flick's line-up, and Fermín will be affected.
Three powerful clubs have knocked on the door
The interest has come from several leagues, but there are three concrete offers that Barça already has on the table. They're not being taken lightly.
Two Premier League clubs (Liverpool and Arsenal) and one Bundesliga club (Bayer Leverkusen) have shown their intention to sign Fermín. The amounts offered are around €50 million.
The figure is not insignificant. In another financial context, it might be dismissed without a second thought. In the current Barça, every million counts.
Laporta and Deco are scrutinizing the numbers while Flick defines his ideal squad.
The problem: Nico Williams's arrival
Nico Williams's signing not only requires a major investment, but also space in the squad and minutes to justify it. That space could come directly from Fermín, who would see his prominence reduced due to the restructuring of the attack.
In addition, with Raphinha able to play inside and with Dani Olmo and Gavi on the horizon, the coaching staff believe there are duplicate positions. Fermín could become the silent victim of this domino effect.
Imminent decision
Barça hasn't made a final decision yet, but time is running out for Fermín. The three offers remain valid, and the clubs are pushing for an answer in the coming days.
If Barça accepts one, it could close a perfect deal from a financial standpoint: Fermín arrived for free and could leave for a figure that would help, significantly, with financial fair play.