Chelsea given £86m Barcelona transfer 'green light' as Hansi Flick makes Frenkie de Jong call

Chelsea appear to have been given the green light to sign Marc Casadó from Barcelona this summer. The 21-year-old midfielder was briefly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge before becoming a regular under Hansi Flick.

Casadó, whose contract at the Camp Nou expires in June 2028, featured 23 times in La Liga last season, scoring one goal and providing three assists. The Spain international played a key role in the side, shielding the backline, before suffering a ligament injury in March.

He also helped the Catalan outfit reach the knockout stages of the Champions League, winning all but two of his eight appearances in the 'league phase'. Casadó's impressive performances before he was sidelined haven't gone unnoticed, reportedly attracting interest from the English top-flight.

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According to Spanish outlet Sport, Barcelona higher-ups are big fans of the youngster, but they believe it's unlikely that he'll be a starter next season, so they could be open to cashing in. The report claims that Casadó has 'caught the attention' of many Premier League clubs, including Chelsea.

Sport adds that Casadó, who Flick once preferred to Frenkie de Jong, has a €100m (£86m) release clause in his contract. However, it's said that if the Blues were to offer Barcelona at least €30m (£26m) for the Spain international, then 'the path to an exit could open'.

Earlier this year, Flick insisted that Casadó is still at the forefront of his plans. In February, the former Bayern Munich boss told reporters: "No, He has not done anything wrong. I am also speaking with him.

"At the moment, it is like this because Frenkie is doing really well, he is also producing a good level in ball possession and key moments. This is what we need, and at the moment it’s like this."

"Frenkie starts, but Casa is also doing well," added Flick. "It’s not a case of: when one plays, it is something against the other. Everyone has their job. We are one team, and when everyone plays, they have to play well, it’s a normal thing."

When pressed on whether he prefers De Jong or Casadó, Flick replied: "I am very satisfied with the performance of the entire team. It is easy to change players. That is very important and is what I pass on to the team and even more so at the moment of the season we are in."

Last season, Casadó was very complimentary of Flick. As quoted by the Metro, the Chelsea target said: "The coach has helped me a lot to start playing games in the first-team and he gives me a lot of confidence to play.

"He also tells me very clearly what I have to do so that I can get the best out of myself. I am very grateful to him. It is clear that these are my first matches in La Liga and I am feeling comfortable.

"I think both the coach and my team-mates are helping me. I am happy with everything and I hope it can continue like this. I think he has helped me a lot to be able to achieve my maximum performance and to understand many aspects of football so things can go even better."