Barcelona are expected to undergo yet another big revamp this summer, as they attempt to reinforce numerous spots in their starting lineup while also unloading players who do not match the profile Xavi and co. want from their players. However, the Catalans need to offload a host of names off their roster before they can bring in new players.
As a result, Barcelona have drawn up a list of players who will be put on sale in the summer. This list includes several players who are currently on loan, including Clement Lenglet, Francisco Trincao, Samuel Umtiti, Nico Gonzalez, and Sergino Dest. The Catalans are looking to sell all of these, but perhaps none more than Dest.
Dest agrees loan move to Union Berlin as Barcelona career looks bleak
According to Mundo Deportivo, the American defender is close to joining Union Berlin on loan. The loan, however, is contingent on Berling’s qualification for the Champions League. Furthermore, sources add that there is already an agreement between Dest and Berlin on a prospective move, and the deal will be made public at the end of the season, based on the requirements.
Dest, who is now on loan at AC Milan, has underperformed throughout his time there and is expected to return to Barcelona after his loan expires. He has only featured 9 times in all competitions for the Rossoneri, who have decided to ship him back in the summer. The Italian club is unimpressed with the right-back and has no plans to pay the €20 million permanent clause included in the loan agreement.
The USMNT international joined the La Liga giants from Ajax in 2020 for an initial fee of €21 million. However, the right-back’s transfer has not gone as planned, despite the fact that he has made 72 appearances for the squad in various competitions. Dest joined AC Milan on loan for the 2022-23 season after falling out of favour under Xavi previous season.
While there is optimism on the player’s side that he could compete for a starting spot at Barcelona next season, given the Catalan club lacks a specialist right-back, according to the aforementioned source, the Dutchman does not figure into Xavi’s plans. Dest will be determined to relaunch his career in Berlin. He is under contract with Barcelona until 2025, although it is unknown whether he will remain at the Camp Nou.
As they seek to balance their budgets, the Blaugrana are set to move the right-back this summer. Another loan move for the former Ajax defender appears to be in the cards. For the majority of the season, Xavi has deployed Jules Kounde, who is primarily a central defender, at right-back. They are thought to be eager to relieve the Frenchman of his full-back duties this summer by bringing in a new player in the position.
Since Dest is expected to return to the club but but shipped out immediately, Barcelona are looking to sign a right-back this summer, with names like Juan Foyth, Diogo Dalot, and Jeremie Frimpong on their radar. The Blaugrana have been linked with a move for Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo as well, who has fallen out of favour under Pep Guardiola and is currently on loan at Bayern Munich. Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Meunier is also a possibility for the Camp Nou outfit, according to Mundo Deportivo.