Everton Lead Race for Barcelona’s £34M Midfielder Marc Casado as David Moyes Plots Squad Rebuild
The Toffees have emerged as frontrunners ahead of Manchester United, with the La Masia graduate prioritizing regular playing time over Champions League football.
LIVERPOOL — Everton have emerged as the surprise frontrunners to sign Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado, with the player prioritizing guaranteed first-team football over moves to elite Premier League rivals, according to journalist Graeme Bailey.
The Toffees, who recently completed their first year at the brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium in the 2025/26 season, are preparing for a significant squad rebuild. Manager David Moyes is aiming to push for European qualification in the upcoming Premier League campaign, and securing a high-caliber central midfielder has become the club’s primary transfer window objective.
Barcelona are reportedly prepared to sell the 22-year-old Spaniard for £34 million. While Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City have all registered interest in the player, Casado has reportedly ruled out moves to Stamford Bridge or the Etihad Stadium due to concerns that his playing time would be severely restricted.
Although Manchester United remain keen on securing his services, Everton have taken pole position. Casado’s desire for a prominent, consistent role in the starting lineup aligns perfectly with the project Moyes is building on Merseyside.
A product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy—which has historically produced some of the world’s finest technical midfielders—Casado is highly regarded for his tactical intelligence and work rate. He excels at breaking opposition lines with accurate passing, escaping high-pressure situations in the engine room, and dropping deep to regain possession through interceptions and tackling.
For Moyes, who has historically favored disciplined, hard-working midfields, the youngster represents an ideal candidate to operate as a solid number six. Casado’s ability to dictate the tempo of a match and shield the defense could provide the tactical control Everton lacked at times last season.
While the £34 million valuation is understood to be well within Everton’s financial reach, the success of the transfer may ultimately hinge on the player’s personal ambitions. With the Toffees unable to offer Champions League football for the upcoming season, Casado must decide whether the promise of regular Premier League starts outweighs the allure of elite European competition.
