James Ward-Prowse looking down
(Credit: Imago)
Rahul Lakhani
Tue 19 August 2025 20:10, UK
West Ham have now been linked with a shock move for Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado, with less than two weeks remaining in the transfer window.
Karren Brady has confirmed that West Ham are looking to sign a midfielder, with a lack of speed in the middle of the park a huge concern.
The midfield pairing of James Ward-Prowse and Guido Rodriguez was disastrous in West Ham’s opening day defeat to Sunderland, and both players arguably need to be upgraded on.
It has been reported that West Ham are considering a £26 million move for Casado, and if they pull off the deal, they will have significantly upgraded their midfield.
Karren Brady has admitted that West Ham need a midfielder
Casado a huge upgrade on Ward-Prowse
Casado was a key player for Barcelona in the first half of last season, but injuries disrupted his campaign and he fell behind Frenkie De Jong in the pecking order.
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It would be a surprise to see Casado leave Barcelona, but if the 21-year-old does join West Ham, they will have landed themselves a true gem.
Casado has made 41 appearances for Barcelona’s first team, scoring once and providing six assists.
The midfielder appeared 36 times last season, winning La Liga, the Spanish Supercup and the Copa Del Rey.
Casado is much more comfortable in possession, and FBRef ranks him as one of the most accurate passers in the top five leagues, while Ward-Prowse ranks significantly lower in this regard.
James Ward-Prowse and Marc Casado's stats compared
James Ward-Prowse and Marc Casado’s stats from the last year compared (Credit: FBCharts)
The Spaniard is not only better on the ball, but he also completes twice as many tackles per 90 minutes than the Englishman, with 3.05 compared to the 30-year-old’s 1.45.
Casado is yet to add goals and assists to his game, but operates much better in deeper positions, and can help the attack thrive with his progressive passing.
West Ham
James Ward-Prowse has been underwhelming at West Ham
West Ham need younger midfielders
Sunderland’s thrashing of West Ham saw the youngest team in the league outrun the Hammers’ ageing stars, and it is clear that fresh ideas are needed in the midfield.
Freddie Potts has returned from a strong loan spell at Portsmouth, and if paired with Casado, the pair could form a new-look, vibrant young midfield which excels in possession.
Graham Potter was seemingly keen on lowering the age of his squad, but there is still a lot of work to do in the market as West Ham may now be wary of the threat of relegation if they continue to regress.
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