West Ham United are reportedly prepared to table a €30 million bid as they look to beat Chelsea to the signing of Marc Casado.
According to a report from Fichajes, West Ham United have stepped up their pursuit of Barcelona midfield sensation Marc Casado. The Hammers are in contact with the Spanish giants as they look to strike a deal in the coming days.
While Chelsea are also keen on signing the 21-year-old, it is the East London outfit that are setting the pace. The Hammers are prepared to fork out a significant fee worth €30 million to get the deal over the line.
Casado joined the Barcelona youth setup back in 2016. The Spaniard has gone up the ranks at some pace, and he has been a part of their first team since last summer. With Frenkie de Jong struggling with injuries and form, the 21-year-old was the go-to man for Hansi Flick in midfield during the first half of last season.
He was involved in 36 matches, contributing towards seven goals and racking up in excess of 2,400 minutes. While the Dutch international is now back at his best and is ahead of him in the pecking order, Casado still remains an integral part of Flick’s plans.
The Spanish midfielder’s impressive rise has put him on the radar of multiple top clubs, who are trying to secure his services this summer. Chelsea and West Ham United are two London clubs that want to sign the La Masia graduate.
The Blues are constantly on the lookout for young players with massive potential, and the 21-year-old is considered an ideal fit for their project. While Enzo Maresca’s team are interested in the young Spaniard, they have not made any concrete moves just yet.
West Ham front-runners to sign Casado
West Ham United are quite serious about their pursuit of the young defensive midfielder. Potter wants more quality in the centre of the park and believes Marc Casado could do wonders for them in the short and long run.
The East London outfit have already established contact with Barcelona, and they are reportedly willing to put forward a bid worth close to €30 million. Ideally, the Blaugrana would not want to sell one of their best young players, but they find themselves in a very difficult financial situation.
Casado’s departure would not only help Barcelona balance their books but also allow them to register players for the new season. It could resolve significant internal issues, which is why the club chiefs are considering offloading him, even though Flick is against his exit.