Fabrizio Romano Clears the Air on Chelsea’s Interest in Fermin Lopez and Xavi Simons Transfer Saga

Chelsea’s transfer window drama is far from over, and two names continue to dominate the headlines – Xavi Simons and, more recently, Fermin Lopez. With plenty of noise around both players, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has now given fans some much-needed clarity.

For weeks now, Chelsea’s pursuit of Xavi Simons has felt like a never-ending story. The Dutch midfielder, currently with RB Leipzig on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, has long been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge. Supporters have been waiting for the breakthrough, but the deal has dragged on, turning into a classic summer transfer saga.

The situation took another twist when The Athletic reported that Chelsea may need to sell Christopher Nkunku back to RB Leipzig in order to unlock the deal for Simons. The suggestion that a player swap or sale could be the key raised eyebrows among fans and created fresh doubts about whether Simons would actually be heading to West London this summer.

Adding to the drama, reports began circulating on Monday afternoon that Chelsea had turned their attention to Barcelona’s talented midfielder Fermin Lopez. The 21-year-old, who broke into the Barca first team last season, is highly regarded in Spain and would certainly bring flair and energy to the Blues midfield.

So, are Chelsea switching focus away from Simons and chasing Lopez instead? According to Fabrizio Romano, the situation is not as advanced as some may think.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano explained:

“Direct contact TODAY between Chelsea and Fermin Lopez’s agent. Chelsea started asking questions – how is it going at Barcelona? What’s the contract situation? What’s his salary? Would he be open to leaving? No bid so far but the conversation happened.”

Romano stressed that, despite the rumours, Barcelona sources have denied any official bid from Chelsea. He added that there has been “no club-to-club contact, no official bid, and no concrete negotiations” for Lopez at this stage.

In other words, Chelsea are keeping tabs on Lopez but are not pushing for a move yet.

Meanwhile, Romano was quick to remind fans that the club’s main focus hasn’t shifted. Chelsea are still very much working on a deal for Xavi Simons. The Dutch international remains at the top of the priority list along with Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, who has also been linked with a sensational switch to Stamford Bridge.

Romano made it clear:

“Chelsea are still working on Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho. These two remain the two priority targets for Chelsea.”

For Chelsea supporters, this will be reassuring news. Despite the Lopez talks, Simons is still the number one target. The club is determined to bring him in, even though the negotiations with Leipzig and PSG have proved complicated.

The idea of signing Garnacho will also excite fans, but that deal looks even more ambitious given his importance to Manchester United. Still, Chelsea’s intent is clear: they want to add young, world-class talent to strengthen their attack for the long term.

In the short term, however, fans may need to prepare for more twists and turns. Transfer windows are rarely straightforward, and Chelsea’s big-spending new era has shown just how complicated modern deals can become.

For now, Chelsea fans will continue to keep a close eye on developments. Simons remains the dream signing, Lopez is an interesting alternative being quietly monitored, and Garnacho is a bold target that would make huge headlines if it ever became realistic.

As Romano often says: “Here we go” hasn’t been announced yet – but Chelsea are still very much in the hunt.