Chelsea latest as Bayern enquiry emerges and Barcelona star responds to transfer interest

Chelsea, who backed Enzo Maresca to the tune of a whopping £275million this summer, have had one of their failed targets speak out about the club's interest. The Blues also could have seen Raheem Sterling leave, among their other departures.

The start to Chelsea's season has been a mixed bag. They've managed to stay unbeaten in the Premier League, securing two wins and two draws from their first four matches, including a latest 2-2 draw against Brentford. Their squad has undergone significant changes since last season, with new faces like Joao Pedro and Alejandro Garnacho joining the ranks. Barcelona's young talent Fermin Lopez was on Chelsea's radar before the transfer window shut, but he has now revealed that he never contemplated leaving the Catalan giants. Sterling remains at Chelsea, though he doesn't feature in Maresca's plans, and he too was the subject of transfer speculation as Express Sport brings you all the latest news from Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea target opens up about transfer interest

Lopez, a dynamic 22-year-old midfielder, has emerged as one of Barcelona's shining stars and attracted attention from Chelsea over the summer. A reported bid of £35million was made, and after missing out on long-term target Xavi Simons to rivals Tottenham, the Blues were keen to secure a deal.

However, no such move came to fruition, and Lopez remains at Barcelona. His team faced Valencia at home on Sunday and delivered a resounding 6-0 victory.

Lopez found the net twice, and when quizzed post-match regarding Chelsea's reported interest, he emphatically stated such a transfer was never a possibility.

"I never had any doubts," he told Movistar. "There is always speculation, but I always wanted to stay here, and I will fight to stay here for many years. The rest is all part of football."

Raheem Sterling's Bayern Munich escape route

Following his loan spell with Arsenal last season, Sterling returned to Stamford Bridge earlier this year, with indications suggesting a permanent departure was imminent. The English winger, now 30, struggled to make an impact at the Emirates and was reportedly available for £20m during the summer window.

A potential switch that would have kept him in west London with Fulham was discussed, but no deadline-day transfer materialised. He remains at Chelsea but faces limited opportunities under Maresca.

The Telegraph now reveals that not only were the Cottagers potentially interested in Sterling, but German champions Bayern Munich also made enquiries about his availability on deadline day.

Such interest stemmed from Nicolas Jackson's initially faltering loan arrangement, as the Bavarian giants required wide reinforcements. Jackson ultimately completed his temporary move, however, and Sterling's appeal diminished. Italian outfit Napoli also reportedly made enquiries about securing his services.

New signing booed by own fans

One player who has secured a move is Dutch striker Emanuel Emegha, who is poised to switch to Chelsea from Strasbourg in 2026. Nevertheless, the 22-year-old's choice to leave has sparked fury amongst supporters.

Chelsea and Strasbourg are affiliated clubs under BlueCo ownership. Club skipper Emegha's transfer between the sister organisations has clearly incensed Strasbourg fans, who displayed a protest banner targeting him during Sunday's encounter with Le Havre.

"Emegha, pawn of BlueCo. After changing shirt, give back your captain's armband," declared the banner brandished by the club's ultras, who also jeered when the forward received his Player of the Month accolade before kick-off despite being absent from the squad.

Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior condemned the backlash and declared to the club's media: "Emanuel Emegha was devastated, and I was too. I am very disappointed by what I saw. Seeing a banner against one of last season's best players is unacceptable. My players deserve much better."