Catalan giants Barcelona are reportedly keen on bringing in Maxime Lopez as a long-term successor for club captain Sergio Busquets.
According to a report from Fichajes, Maxime Lopez is one of four midfielders Barcelona have earmarked as a potential long-term successor for Spanish international and club captain Sergio Busquets heading into the 2023 summer transfer window.
The 24-year-old French midfielder has made quite a name for himself since joining Sassuolo back in 2021. Lopez has established himself as a key player for the Italian club, and his performances in Serie A have attracted the attention of Barcelona.
Apparently, the Catalan giants are keeping tabs on the likes of Jorginho, Ruben Neves and Martin Zubimendi as well. However, all three players are likely to cost a lot more than Lopez, and it will be interesting to see if Barcelona decide to pursue the Frenchman instead.
The report adds that the 24-year-old Sassuolo midfielder could be available for a fee of around €15 million despite the fact that he has a contract with the Italian club until the summer of 2025.
Lopez has certainly proven his quality in Italy, and there is no doubt that he has the potential to play for a top club in the future. He is likely to develop further with experience and coaching. A move to Barcelona could accelerate his development when he is playing alongside top-class players.
Furthermore, the reported asking price suggests that he could be a major bargain for the Blaugrana in the long run. Despite their financial limitations, Barcelona can certainly afford to ay €15 million for the talented French midfielder, and it will be interesting to see if they decide to come forward with a concrete offer at the end of the season.
Busquets has been one of the pillars of Barcelona’s success for more than a decade, and the Catalan giants will have to replace him properly if they want to continue to push for major trophies. Lopez will thus have massive shoes to fill if he is brought in as the Spaniard’s replacement.
Busquets is widely regarded as the best defensive midfielder of his generation, and it will be interesting to see if Lopez can fulfil his tremendous potential and fill the Barcelona captain’s void when he moves on.