Overview

• Sporting director Deco met López and his representatives on Thursday as reports shifted Barcelona’s price from roughly €70m to €90m, according to Mundo Deportivo.
• Chelsea held further talks with the midfielder, with Enzo Maresca involved, and made initial club-to-club contact, while reporting places their offer in the €50m–€65m range and indicates they await the player’s green light.
• López has been given a short decision window and is described as leaning toward staying yet seriously weighing Chelsea’s proposal, and he canceled a planned fan interview event.
• A sale near earlier valuations is reported to free about €45m in salary-limit room to aid registrations, though Hansi Flick wants to keep López and Barcelona plan no direct replacement, instead promoting teenager Dro Fernández if he departs.
• Rival interest persists, with El Chiringuito claiming Newcastle could go up to €100m, a figure that has not been corroborated by other outlets.