Marc Casado and Enzo Maresca (Photo: Alex Caparros, Warren Little/Getty Images)
Chelsea will soon have a golden opportunity to negotiate with Barcelona over the transfer of midfielder Marc Casado.
As previously reported by the Daily Briefing, the 22-year-old is currently a target for both Chelsea and Arsenal.
Casado has shone for Barça without always being a regular starter and fits the bill in terms of being the kind of young player Chelsea are looking to sign under their current owners.
So while fans prepare to consider how to buy Chelsea vs. Barcelona tickets ahead of the big game at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, November 25, we imagine club leaders are also making plans for a possible meeting that night.
Will Chelsea make a move to sign Marc Casado?
Nothing is guaranteed in football and the transfer window moves quickly, but previous information was that Chelsea were serious about signing Casado.
However, it is understood that Barcelona would have to agree to the sale and that the Spaniard himself would also have to agree to the transfer.
Ultimately, it’s too early to know for sure whether any of this will happen, but we expect Chelsea to try.
The west London giants will assess the situation in the coming weeks and will be able to get a clearer idea of Casado’s availability and future plans.
As reported, Arsenal will also be in the race to sign Casado.
Is Chelsea tracking other Barcelona players?
It was also recently reported that Chelsea want Barça centre-back Ronald Araujo, and that name could also be discussed if the two clubs hold negotiations in the near future.
CFC are notable for having recently signed Marc Giu from the Catalan giants, but they are also known to have had an interest in both Jules Kounde and Rafinha prior to their move to Camp Nou.
More recently, Chelsea also wanted Fermin López this summer, but it remains to be seen whether he is still one of their priorities, as they ended up signing Facundo Buonanotte in that position.
Barcelona have financial problems and may have to release one or two players in the near future to comply with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play laws, but they don’t want to be bullied into letting key players go unless the deal is absolutely right for them.