Manchester United can get a Barcelona player on the deadline day of the transfer window, who is willing to join them. However, the player is not midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The news may have excited the United fans as their club was linked with only one player from the Catalan club, who was Frenkie de Jong. But the Dutch international had long ago made it clear that he is unwilling to leave Barcelona for Man United.
The player in discussion here is the Spanish side’s wantaway right-back Sergino Dest. As per Mundo Deportivo journalist Ferran Martinez, Dest is prepared to join the Red Devils given the lack of opportunities at Barca under Xavi. The Barca manager has reportedly conveyed it to the American that he is not a part of his plans and should find himself a new suitor.
Barcelona want Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot in exchange for Dest
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has yearned for a number of signings this summer, but has been awarded with only a handful ones. However, United have been active in the market since last week after they swiftly completed a deal for Real Madrid’s Casemiro. Followed by Ajax’s Antony who has finally landed in Manchester for a whopping fee of €100 million.
Ten Hag now wants reinforcement on the right flank in defense and eyes Dest as a perfect fit. While he still has the likes of Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in that department, Ten Hag doesn’t count on the latter. As a result, he wants a new right-back to provide competition to Dalot. The Dutchman knows Dest from his Ajax days as the 21-year-old featured in 38 games under him, collecting 6 assists and scoring two goals.
He then left for Barca in the summer of 2020, and since has had ups and downs in two years. A regular under former Barca manager Ronald Koeman, Dest is yet to play a minute under Xavi this season. Dest has been reportedly told by the club he is surplus to their needs, with Sergi Roberto, Ronald Araujo and now Jules Kounde all able to play in his position.
As a result, he himself has offered his services to Manchester United according to Ferran Martinez. While the Red Devils are ready to take Ten Hag’s former associate on loan, Martinez further reports that the Catalans want Dalot in exchange, who has been in hot form so far this season. Such a deal is deemed ‘impossible’ by United who are ready to take Dest on loan.
Martinez reported:
“Sergino Dest works to go out on loan to Manchester United and be with Ten Hag again Barça still do not have any proposals and would only accept an exchange with Dalot (something almost impossible). There are no good reports of Wan-Bissaka, neither on nor off the field.”
Dest has 72 games to his name at Camp Nou, scoring 3 goals and providing 5 assists. However, his stint at the club could be cut short after Xavi has preferred other players in his position. A reunion with Ten Hag is seen as the only possible way by Dest to get his career back on track with regular game time.
On the other hand, Wan-Bissaka too is yet to take the field in the new season under Ten Hag and has been told to fond a new club. However, as Martinez reports there is no news yet on whether the former Crystal Palace player has sorted his future or not.