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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Daniel Orme

John Murtough proven right in Erik ten Hag row as ex-Man Utd target set for summer exit

Former Manchester United target Sergino Dest looks to be on the move this summer after seeing a switch to Old Trafford cancelled at boardroom level.

The American defender was previously targeted by current Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag. He was keen to be reunited with the right-back at United after previously coaching him at Ajax.

Dest was on the move last summer but not to Old Trafford. He penned a season-long loan deal with Italian giants AC Milan but has struggled for minutes with just 14 starts throughout the season - just four of which have been starts for his adoptive employers.

Now, it appears that Dest could be on the move again this summer with Milan electing not to make the move permanent. According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, he is on the verge of moving to Bundesliga side Union Berlin.

He will move to Germany on another loan deal, with his Barcelona contract not set to expire until the summer of 2025. Union are currently still in the fight to win their first-ever Bundesliga title.

They sit six points behind current league leaders Bayern Munich with four matches of the campaign remaining. His switch to Germany would see Man United lose out on his services once more.

Man United were interested in Sergino Dest before his move to AC Milan (Getty Images)

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Ten Hag was interested in a move for him last summer but director of football John Murtough disagreed with him. It was thought that Aaron Wan-Bissaka was a much better fit for the Red Devils’ system.

Murtough has been proved correct since then with the former Crystal Palace star having enjoyed an impressive renaissance at Old Trafford. He was afforded just four minutes of Premier League action before the World Cup.

The English defender has re-established himself in the side. Wan-Bissaka has been afforded 12 Premier League starts since the tournament, whilst he has also played a key role in the Red Devils’ runs to both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals.

His future however remains up in the air with just a year remaining on his United contract. Ten Hag has claimed that the decision between Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot is a difficult one.

Speaking last month, he said: “I think it's really close, the competition between them. Maybe Aaron gives you a little bit more defending, Diogo gives you maybe a little more offence. But I have to say I think they both have made progress in both areas, so it's really close.”

Ten Hag may not have to pick between the two this weekend for Sunday’s showdown with West Ham at the London Stadium. Both Wan-Bissaka and Dalot started in the midweek defeat to Brighton and could remain in the starting line-up.

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