He's been shit this season, but he hasn't cost as a fortune in fee and paychecks like the golden retriever with very little to show for in 8(?) years he's been here after being expected to be the new big thing. Casado can still improve given he's just started as a pro and if he doesn't, no big loss. Just sell him to highest bidder. Can't say the same about our high-priced acquirements that never lived up to hype, Frenkie being one of them. He had several great games this season, then returned to means, first half of Chesea match being typical example. He ain't controller, he ain't playmaker and he ain't defender either. A very niche luxury player that requires an enforcer along in double pivot to work well. The same could be said about Pedri, who would benefit from physical DM with decent passing culture, but has 5x times the talent, thus it's obvious who's the odd one out. Given the expenses that these players project, the rational choice is to accommodate Pedri with better partner, not get rid of cheap lamasia squad lads, who have barely sniffed the big time football and cost nothing. It's not to say that i want to get rid of Frenkie, but given the financial circumstances, he would have to be first to go and not players that are basically free.
Though what some poster (think Donak) said is also true - can swap out Casado for the next la masia talent for that squad role, if there is such in the making. Bernal is not that as he has played barely 3 matches for the first team and didn't show squat.