Following a busy period, the Manchester City squad can now look forward to some rest. As the season draws to a close, the club`s focus is already shifting towards reinforcing the team for future campaigns, including challenging for major trophies in 2026. Manchester City is expected to be active in the transfer market.
This summer, the Citizens have already made several notable additions. Players like Rayan Aït-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, and Tijjani Reijnders have joined, part of a total of nine signings in 2025, including Marcus Bettinelli. These transfers amount to a combined spend of £289.4m, as detailed in the table below.
Manchester City`s Signings in 2025
| Players | Selling clubs | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Abdukodir Khusanov | Lens | £33.6m |
| Vitor Reis | Palmeiras | £29.6m |
| Omar Marmoush | Frankfurt | £59m |
| Juma Bah | Valladolid | £5.1m |
| Nico González | Porto | £50m |
| Rayan Aït-Nouri | Wolves | £31.8m |
| Rayan Cherki | Lyon | £34m |
| Marcus Bettinelli | Chelsea | Undisclosed |
| Tijjani Reijnders | AC Milan | £46.3m |
| Total spend | £289.4m | |
Despite these summer acquisitions, with recent signings like Rayan Cherki showing promise, manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly keen on further strengthening his midfield options.
According to reports originating from Spain, Manchester City is exploring the possibility of signing Barcelona midfielder Fermín López. It is claimed that Guardiola views the Spanish international as a perfect fit for his tactical setup and has conveyed a desire to expedite transfer negotiations.
Sources suggest that Barcelona might consider selling Fermín, who is currently valued at approximately £43m. Such a move could potentially facilitate Barcelona`s ability to sign and register Nico Williams, a player reportedly on their radar this summer, although this deal faces significant financial challenges.
The 22-year-old midfielder signed a new contract with Barcelona in October, which includes a hefty release clause of €500m (around £431m). However, given Barcelona`s well-documented financial difficulties, a sale of the La Masia academy product might become a necessary option.
How Fermín López Could Enhance Manchester City
Fermín was a regular presence in Hansi Flick`s domestic treble-winning Barcelona squad last season, making 46 appearances, albeit frequently as a substitute. His performances have garnered considerable praise.
Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout described his displays as `amazing`. Fintan O`Reilly of Total Football Analysis highlighted his effectiveness when `drifting into the half space` and noted his propensity for shooting from distance. O`Reilly also pointed out Fermín`s strong statistics in `defensive actions`, suggesting he is a versatile, all-action midfielder.
Declan Haywood of Breaking the Lines believes Fermín embodies the modern Barcelona `tiki-taka` style. He praised the midfielder`s `versatility` both in and out of possession, asserting his potential to reach the highest level. Former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez famously described him as the `whole package`.
Let`s compare the Spanish talent to Manchester City`s recent midfield acquisition, Tijjani Reijnders, using performance statistics from the 2024/25 season.
| Statistics | Fermín | Reijnders |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 46 | 54 |
| Minutes | 2,039 | 4,591 |
| Goals | 8 | 15 |
| Assists | 10 | 5 |
| All statistics below are on a per-90 basis. | ||
| Shots | 2.2 | 1.5 |
| Chances created | 2.1 | 1.4 |
| Attempted passes | 45 | 43 |
| Pass completion % | 86.15% | 89.54% |
| Duels contested | 13.3 | 6 |
| Ball recoveries | 4.8 | 3.6 |
| Touches | 67 | 56 |
The comparison table reveals that Fermín outperforms Reijnders in most key metrics per 90 minutes, with the exceptions being total goals and pass completion percentage. These statistics suggest why Fermín could be considered an even more significant talent than the Dutch midfielder.
Fermín`s numbers are particularly strong in attacking output (shots, chances created) and defensive contributions (duels, ball recoveries), in addition to attempted passes and touches. This further supports the view that he is a highly versatile and impactful midfielder.
In conclusion, Fermín López appears to be a remarkably well-rounded midfield talent. If Manchester City can capitalize on Barcelona`s ongoing financial constraints to acquire him for a reasonable fee, it would represent a strategically sound move to potentially bring a player of exceptional promise to the Etihad Stadium.
