Arsenal are reportedly lining up a €40m (£34m) offer for Barcelona’s highly rated young midfielder Marc Casado, as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his midfield with a long-term partner for incoming Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi.
Casado, 21, enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for Barcelona in 2024–25, tallying one goal and six assists in 36 appearances. Despite signing a contract extension until 2028 just last year, growing financial pressure at Camp Nou may force the club to offload promising talent to create space for new arrivals like Nico Williams.
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Arsenal are ready to pounce. Arteta is reportedly a huge admirer of Casado and sees him as the ideal complement to Zubimendi in a two-man midfield.
This would potentially allow Declan Rice to push further up the pitch, though integrating club captain Martin Ødegaard into the same setup remains a tactical challenge.
Manchester United and Chelsea are also monitoring Casado’s situation, but Arsenal’s strong positioning and project appeal may give them an edge. While Casado has publicly stated his dream is to spend his career at Barcelona, the club’s financial circumstances and Arsenal’s ambition could override his personal desire.
Should the deal go through, it would add another layer of youthful dynamism to Arteta’s evolving midfield as the Gunners aim to compete for major silverware next season.
PAY ATTENTION: Check out Football Updates that are picked exactly for YOU ➡️ on Our Discover Page