Barcelona Transfer News Roundup: Catalans unlikely to sign Arsenal ace, club eyeing Pedri renewal, and more - September 15, 2024

Barcelona travel to Estadi Montilivi on Sunday (September 15) to face Girona in La Liga. Hansi Flick has registered a blistering start to his Camp Nou tenure, winning all four games so far.

Meanwhile, the Catalans are unlikely to move for an Arsenal midfielder next summer. Elsewhere, the north London side are determined to keep Pedri at the club.

On that note, let's look at the major Barcelona transfer stories from September 15, 2024.

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Barcelona unlikely to sign Thomas Partey, says journalist

According to journalist Matteo Moretto, Barcelona are unlikely to move for Thomas Partey next year. The Ghanaian midfielder is in the final year of his contract with Arsenal and hasn't signed a new deal yet.

The Gunners strengthened their midfield this summer by signing Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad. Partey was linked with a move to Camp Nou over the summer but the transfer failed to materialize. The Catalans could be tempted to move for the player if he becomes available for free in 2025.

However, in his column for CaughtOffside, Merino insisted that the 31-year-old is unlikely to return to Spain.

“Personally, I don’t see Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey returning to Spain, at least not to Atletico Madrid, and probably not to Barcelona either. Put simply, things did not end well with Atletico before he went to Arsenal, and he is not on the agenda for Barcelona,” Moretto wrote.

He continued:

“During the course of the summer, he had approaches from Italy and from Saudi Arabia, perhaps even other Premier League sides. Barcelona and Atletico have both turned to the free agent market in the past, and Partey is only four months away from being able to sign a deal, but honestly, I don’t see him going to either of these two teams, at least as things stand currently.”

Juventus have previously been linked with Partey and a move to Turin could be a possibility next year.

Catalans eyeing Pedri renewal

Barcelona are planning to tie Pedro down to a new deal, according to Mundo Deportivo. The 21-year-old rose through the ranks at Camp Nou and has been a first-team regular in recent years.

Pedri has adapted well to Hansi Flick's tactics, appearing in all four games this season. Despite his injury troubles, the Catalans are pleased with his efforts and are determined to keep him at the club.

The Spanish midfielder's contract with the La Liga giants expires in 2026 and his suitors are likely to keep an eye on the situation. However, Pedri has no desire to leave and wants to continue at Barcelona.

While there's a long way to go before a deal can be struck, the club have already informed the player's entourage that they want him to stay. The Catalans are expected to sort out the situation before the player enters the final year of his contract next summer.

Tottenham Hotspur wanted Fermin Lopez this summer

According to journalist Miguel Rico, Tottenham Hotspur tried to sign Fermin Lopez this summer. The Spanish midfielder exploded onto the scene at Camp Nou last season, registering 11 goals and one assist from 43 games across competitions.

He was one of the finds of the campaign, along with Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi. The 21-year-old's efforts have earned him admirers at multiple clubs across the continent, including the Premier League.

Spurs apparently attempted to prise him away and even approached Barcelona for a possible move. However, the La Liga giants turned them away as they firmly have Lopez in their plans.

The Spaniard also wanted to stay and continue his steady rise at the club. He is under contract at Camp Nou until 2027 and reportedly has a €400m release clause in his deal. The Catalans are apparently working to tie the player down to a new and improved contract.