How Barcelona midfielder could hold the key to permanent deal for veteran defender | OneFootball

The upcoming transfer window promises to be a hugely important one for FC Barcelona, with several major deals being eyed.

As has been well-established by now, a new striker and a centre-back are seen as the main objectives before next season.

Meanwhile, permanent deals for current on-loan stars, Marcus Rashford and Joao Cancelo, are also being explored, as long as they are financially feasible.

With regard to Cancelo, it is understood that manager Hansi Flick has given the green light for his continued stay, although Barça plan to proceed only if he comes on a free transfer and accepts a lower salary.

However, the Portuguese international’s club, Al Hilal, do not wish to let him go without any fee, and have set an asking price of €15 million.

Marc Casado could be the key

Given the situation, Mundo Deportivo reports that Marc Casado could play a decisive role in determining the future of Cancelo at Barcelona, with Al Hilal showing interest in the La Masia midfielder.

Casado, 22, is one of the Barcelona players expected to attract significant attention in the transfer market this summer. Despite not being a regular starter under Flick, his strong reputation has placed him on the radar of several major clubs.

Cancelo has impressed in recent games for Barcelona. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Interest from Saudi Arabia has already been reported, with Al Hilal emerging as a leading contender after attempting to sign him during the winter transfer window.

At that time, both the player and Flick were unwilling to approve a mid-season transfer, particularly as the coach was without Gavi due to injury. However, the situation could change in the summer, provided that stability returns to the Gulf region.

If Al Hilal proceeds with a move for Casado, Barcelona could use the funds generated from his sale to facilitate Cancelo’s continuation.

The Catalan giants are expected to seek at least €20 million for Casado, while Cancelo is valued at around €15 million by his club, although these figures have not yet been formally discussed between the clubs.

For now, both Casado and Cancelo remain focused on the current season, with their priority being to help Barcelona compete for La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.

Whether Barça and Al-Hilal enter some sort of player-plus-cash arrangement involving Cancelo and Casado will be interesting to see.