Ligue 1 giants could make a move for Barcelona midfielder available for €30 million | OneFootball

Marc Casado has become the FC Barcelona player with the most attention in the final stretch of the transfer window, in terms of possible departures.

Not because the 21-year-old academy midfielder wishes to leave, but because there is a strong sense that his sale would significantly ease the club’s Financial Fair Play restrictions.

Several clubs have expressed interest in the La Masia graduate, who showed last season that he was fully capable of being the starting defensive midfielder for this Barcelona side.

Marseille enter race

Now, according to Onze Mondial (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Casado has emerged as a possible transfer target for Olympique de Marseille in France, who are in the market to replace Adrien Rabiot.

Just a year after signing him, Marseille have placed the French midfielder on the transfer list following an ugly dressing-room fight with teammate Jonathan Rowe, who is also being sold.

As such, the Ligue 1 giants, led by president Pablo Longoria and director Medhi Benatia, are on the lookout for replacements for Rabiot, with Casado being seen as an option, owing to his proven pedigree and potential availability for a fee of €30 million.

Man in demand. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The biggest challenge, however, will be to convince the 21-year-old midfielder to leave Barcelona, given that he has shown no indication of wanting an exit.

Barcelona’s stance on Casado

Barcelona, for their part, will not force Casado’s departure, and the final decision will rest with the player.

One factor under discussion is his reduced playing time, which became evident in the second half of last season following Frenkie de Jong’s return to the starting line-up.

As has already been reported, Premier League sides West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are monitoring him closely. In La Liga, Real Betis are searching for a replacement for Johnny Cardoso and view Casado as the ideal option.

The main obstacle, especially for Betis, is that Barcelona will not consider offers below €30 million. In any case, the final decision on his future will rest with Casado himself.