Arsenal held talks with Barcelona star before Guimaraes move

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Arsenal made a concrete move for Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez during the summer window, holding discussions with both the player and the Catalan club before eventually turning elsewhere.

That is according to Football365, who report that the Gunners were one of three Premier League clubs to test Barcelona's resolve over the 23-year-old before he committed his future to the Camp Nou by signing a new contract.

Talks held, but Lopez never wavered

The report states that Arsenal and two other English sides were keen to add Lopez to their squads and went as far as opening conversations with his camp as well as Barcelona. Speculation at the time suggested the midfielder could be sold, which is what prompted the wave of interest from England.

According to the report, though, Lopez's focus was always on staying and fighting for his place in Catalonia. Once he made that clear, Arsenal stepped back and redirected their attention to alternative midfield targets.

That decision led the Gunners to Bruno Guimaraes, a player with extensive Premier League experience behind him. The report adds that Arsenal do not believe they missed out on a superior option by failing to land Lopez, and that the club expect Guimaraes to bed in more quickly than the Spaniard would have done.

It is a familiar piece of recruitment logic at the Emirates. Signing a midfielder who already understands the physical and tactical demands of English football removes a variable, particularly for a squad operating at the sharp end of multiple competitions.

The door has not closed

Lopez, meanwhile, has started the campaign in strong form and is described as one of the standout performers in the Barcelona side, making the most of the minutes he has been given.

That form cuts both ways. It vindicates his decision to stay, but it also means the Premier League interest that surrounded him over the summer is unlikely to disappear. The report suggests Arsenal's interest may not be over, with the possibility of a future return for the midfielder left open.

Any renewed pursuit would come from a very different starting point, however. Lopez is now tied to fresh terms at Barcelona, a club historically reluctant to part with academy-developed talent who are producing at first-team level, and Arsenal would need a significant change in circumstances to get another look at him.

It is also worth noting the reliability question here. This is not a tier one scoop from the likes of David Ornstein or Fabrizio Romano, but a retrospective report on business that did not happen, so it should be treated with the appropriate caution.

For now, the practical picture is straightforward. Arsenal identified a need in midfield, explored Lopez as a solution, were rebuffed, and moved for Guimaraes instead. The Brazilian is the player tasked with delivering on that investment this season, while Lopez continues his development in Spain.

Whether the two paths cross again will depend on how the next 12 months unfold on both sides.