Nottingham Forest closing in on a major coup? Tricky Trees 'lead race' for Barcelona midfielder

Marc Casado, 22, could say goodbye to Barcelona before the transfer window closes.

The Spanish midfielder has slipped down the pecking order under Hansi Flick and has himself become convinced that he needs more regular game time to continue developing.

Interest is coming mainly from the Premier League, with Nottingham Forest currently the most serious contender to secure his signature.

Barcelona are not actively pushing their academy graduate out, but they have given him permission to seek a new challenge. Casado started just 10 matches last season, and his prospects of a more prominent role have not improved ahead of the new campaign.

A symbolic sign also came with the allocation of squad numbers: the number 17 he had worn was handed to summer signing Anthony Gordon, 25.

Nottingham Forest in a strong position to sign Marc Casado

Interest from English clubs in Casado had already emerged earlier in the summer. His potential arrival was explored by two major football groups, City Football Group, linked with Manchester City, and BlueCo, which owns Chelsea.

Neither option convinced the player. Both plans reportedly included the possibility of a subsequent move to another club within the respective network. Casado was concerned this would simply mean trading his current uncertain position at Barcelona for a similar situation elsewhere.

As a result, when weighing up his next move, he is primarily looking for a club where he will get a genuine chance to fight for a regular starting spot.

That requirement could work in Nottingham Forest's favour. The club have shown serious interest, and Casado could get considerably more opportunities in their midfield than he currently has at Barcelona.

Competition remains fairly wide, however. Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Brighton and Sunderland have also been informed of the player's availability. Manchester United, on the other hand, have dropped out of the running.

The Red Devils held talks over Casado during the summer, but shifted their focus elsewhere after reaching an agreement to sign Carlos Baleba.

Interest also exists outside the Premier League

Casado's situation is also being monitored by Benfica, managed by Marco Silva, while interest has also emerged from Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi option, in particular, does not currently appeal to the player himself. At 22, he wants to continue competing at the highest level in Europe and, when weighing up his options, is prioritising football and regular game time over other factors.

The Premier League therefore represents one of the most logical paths, and Nottingham Forest have put themselves in a strong position. Barcelona are prepared to listen to offers, and Casado has reportedly already accepted that a change of club could be the best solution for his career going forward.