Barcelona are open to selling right-back Sergino Dest – who has been a transfer target for Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag this summer.
The United States international was handed his professional debut by Ten Hag when making his breakthrough at Ajax, prior to joining Barca in a £22million deal in 2020. The 21-year-old has clocked up 72 first-team appearances for the Catalan club over two seasons.
Dest has had to deal with competition from utility player Sergi Roberto and January signing Dani Alves in the right-back position at Camp Nou, but Barca did not extend the short-term contract of Alves with the Brazilian subsequently hitting out at the manner of his exit from the club.
Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde have all joined Barca’s ranks over a busy summer, with more arrivals expected. Chelsea wing-back Marcos Alonso and Manchester City star Bernardo Silva remain priority targets for the club.
Alonso is understood to have already said his goodbyes to team-mates and staff at Chelsea’s Cobham training HQ having long since made up his mind to follow in his father’s footsteps by joining Barcelona. However, the deal for Alonso has been held up by Chelsea's interest in Dest, as they weighed up a potential swap deal, and now looks to have been put on the backburner.
The Catalan club have already missed out on the signing of Cesar Azpilicueta – the Chelsea captain instead opting to renew his contract at Stamford Bridge - and Barca remain light in the right-back area and may look to strengthen in the position this month as a priority over a new left-back.
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A report in Diario Sport now outlines that this has become an objective for Barca boss Xavi Hernandez, who would be open to the club signing a new first-choice player in the position – which would allow them to cash in on Dest.
Ten Hag is an admirer of the US international, whom he worked with previously at Ajax. The United boss has endured a frustrating summer in the transfer window, with just three new players added to the Old Trafford first-team squad: Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez.
Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are the current right-backs in Ten Hag’s squad, although the future of the latter is unclear and the club are believed to be open to his sale should another right-back be added before the close of the window.
