According to AS, Silva has already agreed in principle to join Barcelona for the next two seasons once his Manchester City contract expires this month, with manager Hansi Flick having given his approval. The Portugal international is reportedly willing to reduce his salary to fit within LaLiga's financial regulations — a concession that makes the deal viable.
But Flick's green light comes with a condition: squad space must be created first. And the player most likely to make way is Casadó.
It is a significant moment for a player who has always said Barcelona would have to throw him out before he would consider leaving. That position is shifting. According to AS, Casadó is beginning to accept that another season of limited involvement is incompatible with his development at 22.
The numbers tell the story. In Flick's first season, Casadó appeared in 36 matches and accumulated 2,447 minutes. This past season, across a similar number of appearances — 34 — his playing time fell to 1,397 minutes. The midfield competition at the club is formidable: Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Marc Bernal occupy the primary spots, with Dani Olmo and Fermín López covering the deeper playmaking role. That is seven players for three positions.
With Silva arriving as another option across both central midfield and the right wing, Casadó's position in the rotation would be marginalised further.
His preference, if he does leave, is a loan rather than a permanent sale. He wants to maintain a connection to the club he joined at the age of thirteen and has not closed the door on eventually forcing his way into the first team as a regular starter.
Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and AS Monaco have all registered interest. Atletico Madrid have historically been admirers. Saudi Arabian clubs have also tracked his situation.
Both Casadó and Silva share the same agent in Jorge Mendes — a detail that is unlikely to be coincidental in how the situation is being managed.
Barcelona begin pre-season on July 13. The club would prefer this resolved before then.