West Ham’s Premier League campaign couldn’t have started much worse. A limp 3-0 defeat to newly promoted Sunderland has already set alarm bells ringing, with the Hammers looking flat in attack, shaky at the back, and — perhaps most concerning of all — completely outclassed in midfield.
Sunderland’s youthful exuberance combined with their sprinkling of experience made Graham Potter’s engine room look miles off the pace.
Potter knows he needs a midfield lynchpin, and badly. Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes has been the No.1 target all summer, but after a £30 million bid plus add-ons was rejected — with the Saints demanding nearly double — West Ham have been forced to scan the market for alternatives.
And now, it seems they’ve set their sights on a rather ambitious name from Spain.
West Ham Submit Offer for Casado
Barcelona's Marc Casado. (REUTERS/Albert Gea)
Barcelona’s Marc Casado. (REUTERS/Albert Gea)
According to a new report from journalist Jacob Steinberg, West Ham have lodged an offer to sign Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado.
Steinberg, however, was quick to add that the move looks “unrealistic,” with the Catalan giants highly unlikely to part ways with a player they view as a key part of their future.
Casado is the latest product of Barça’s famed La Masia academy, making his first-team debut in the Champions League back in 2022 before gradually establishing himself as a trusted option in La Liga under Hansi Flick.
The 21-year-old is seen as a potential long-term successor to Sergio Busquets, who himself labelled the youngster “spectacular” for his intelligence and composure at the base of midfield.
A ligament injury picked up in March slowed Casado’s progress last season, leaving him sidelined for weeks and reduced to a bench role upon his return. Even so, Barcelona have no desire to cash in — especially not to a club like West Ham, who’d be viewed as a serious downgrade for one of their brightest prospects.
For all his talent and promise, it looks like we won’t be seeing Casado at the London Stadium any time soon — or, let’s be honest, ever. A swing and a miss from the Hammers, then. On to the next one, as they say…