Chelsea battle Arsenal to sign Barcelona star

Both London clubs must decide their next move.

Enzo Maresca, Mikel Arteta

Chelsea are preparing to add a defensive midfielder to their squad. They want to reduce the workload of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

The Blues have set their sights on one Barcelona midfielder who is getting serious interest ahead of the January transfer window.

But Enzo Maresca is not the only manager who is eyeing a move for that player. Mikel Arteta also wants to add defensive midfielder to his squad.

So, Arsenal are also watching the situation closely. Both clubs are targeting Marc Casado, who could become available in the winter.

The 22-year-old is not yet a regular in the Barcelona starting eleven. However, his profile fits what top Premier League clubs are now looking for.

According to CaughtOffside, Barcelona may be open to selling. The Catalan club are still under financial pressure.

To stay compliant with Financial Fair Play rules, they are expected to offload one or two players. And, Casado could be one of them.

Barcelona will be ready to listen to offers around €30 to 35 million. That range puts him within reach for clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal.

Chelsea have been tracking Casado for some time. During the summer, they made an offer for Fermin Lopez.

That bid was rejected. But during talks, Casado’s name was also discussed. Now, with Barcelona willing to listen, Chelsea are preparing to move.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are also considering the midfielder. Mikel Arteta is still shaping his squad, and the midfield could be a target area.

Christian Norgaard joined from Brentford in the summer. But so far, he has played a limited role. At 31, he is not a long-term solution. That is why Arsenal have also turned their attention to Casado.

Now, both London clubs must decide their next move. Barcelona need funds and Casado is available.  So, it will be interesting to see which club makes the first move.

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