Barcelona starlet Marc Casado is reportedly closing in on signing a new contract amidst interest from Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and Newcastle United.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona prospect Marc Casado is ready to snub interest from Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and Newcastle United by signing a new contract with the Catalan giants.
Casado joined Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth setup in the summer of 2016 from the CF Damm academy. The defensive midfielder has enjoyed a steady rise within the ranks at the club and is currently part of their Juvenil A team. The 18-year-old was also the captain of the side and featured five times in the UEFA Youth League last season.
Casado’s contract with Barcelona expires at the end of this month. A talented, young prospect, the teenager is attracting plenty of interest from clubs in Spain and abroad, with two Premier League sides in the form of Newcastle United and Crystal Palace particularly keen.
Crystal Palace have shifted to a youth-centric recruitment policy under the management of Patrick Vieira, who also brought in stylistic changes at Selhurst Park in his debut campaign at the club. With James McArthur’s contract running out and Luka Milivojevic being linked with an exit, a new holding midfielder is on the top of the Eagles’ wishlist.
Crystal Palace are moving to sign Cheick Doucoure and have even lodged a €17 million offer. At the same time, they are also keen on signing Casado, potentially as a cover in the No. 6 slot, who can grow into a regular in the future.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United are preparing for a huge summer backed by their new owners. While the focus will be on getting in proven stars who can make an immediate impact and help the club challenge for European spots, Eddie Howe’s side will also look to add young talent to build for the future, which is where Casado enters the picture.
However, Casado is now ready to snub the interest from both Newcastle United and Crystal Palace. Instead, the 18-year-old defensive midfielder is now poised to sign a new contract with Barcelona and prolong his stay at the Catalan outfit.
