West Ham United have a centre-half who is earning comparisons with England international and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi on the back of an ‘excellent’ performance against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
The problem is, he is not playing for the Hammers right now.
And how Nuno Espirito Santo could do with Max Kilman or Jean-Clair Todibo putting in the sort of thou-shalt-not-pass performance Kaelan Casey produced during Swansea’s valiant 3-1 EFL Cup defeat by Man City on Wednesday night.
While Kilman and Todibo could not cope with Leeds United at Elland Road, Casey more than held his own against a City frontline which, while without Erling Haaland, still possessed such luminaries Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku and the £60 million Omar Marmoush.
The Swansea supporters know a talented young centre-half when they see one.
Marc Guehi, one of the finest defenders in the Premier League these days, made his breakthrough during a loan spell in South Wales in 2020/21.
And, on last night’s evidence, there are plenty of Swansea supporters who feel that it is only a matter of time before Casey is enjoying a similar emergence at West Ham United.
Swansea fans liken West Ham United loanee Kaelan Casey to Marc Guehi
This, by the way, was only his fourth senior start. 21-year-old Casey has made a trio of cameo appearances in the Championship, with his opportunities restricted to midweek Carabao Cup clashes so far.
But a heroic display against Man City – Casey produced a game-high 14 clearances – gives Swans boss Alan Sheehan a welcome selection headache.
“Kaelan Casey was absolutely immense tonight. Definitely deserves more opportunities in the league,” one Swansea fan wrote on X, their side taking a 12th minute lead before the Premier League giants turned the screw.
“Kaelan Casey has been excellent tonight against a very strong Manchester City side. Looks like he’s been a regular in the team all season. [If he] continues developing like this, West Ham will have a good player in the future.”
“Kaelan Casey is a wonderkid and he’s going to be a top-class centre-half! Unreal talent for his age.”
“Kaelan Casey is going to be a superstar. Not looked nervy once for us, in my opinion. He plays with a real calmness and purpose about him. Hope to see a lot lot more of him.”
Following a nightmare moment in pre-season – Kaelan Casey gifted Everton their opener during a friendly clash over in the USA – it’s clear that the Brentwood-born England Under-20 international has put that blunder behind him.
“Kaelen Casey will follow in the footsteps of Marc Guehi,” another fan writes, drawing comparisons with arguably Swansea’s best centre-half of the last decade or so. “Unbelievable defender. Reads the game extremely well.”
“Casey is class. The next Guehi.”
“Kaelan Casey is going to be the new Marc Guehi in a few years. He was outstanding tonight.”
Casey hopes for ‘more chances’ in the Championship
Speaking to the club’s official website at full-time, meanwhile, Casey expressed a desire to belatedly force his way into Sheehan’s XI on a regular basis with their EFL Cup campaign coming to an end.
“I think we can be proud, even though we don’t get the result,” Casey said. “We started well and got the goal, but City do what they do, they own you in and it becomes very difficult to get out.
“We defended well as a group but it just wasn’t to be in the end.
“It was great to be involved. I am learning so much every day working with the likes of [fellow defenders] Cam Burgess and Ben Cabango, and I hope I can get more chances in the future.”
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