Barcelona have reportedly slapped a valuation of €20 million on defender Sergino Dest, who is a priority target for Chelsea in the January window.
According to a report from SPORT, Chelsea are ready to go all out to secure the signing of Sergino Dest from Barcelona in the ongoing transfer window. However, they might have to shell out a fee of €20 million to sign the full-back.
Dest is currently in his second season with Barcelona after joining the club in 2020 from AFC Ajax. However, the move has not panned out as imagined for the 21-year-old, who has struggled to nail down a starting berth for himself. Manager Xavi Hernandez had overlooked the right-back in recent weeks, and with Dani Alves now registered, the youngster is set to go down a peg further in the pecking order.
Given Barcelona’s financial problems, they are very much open to parting ways with the USMNT star, who is not seen as an integral part of the first-team setup by manager Xavi. And, there has been no shortage of interest in Dest either, with the likes of Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid wanting to sign him up in January.
However, it seems like Chelsea are set to ramp up their pursuit of the former Ajax starlet in the coming days. The Blues are on the lookout for a new full-back after the season-ending knee injury to Ben Chilwell. Furthermore, right-back Reece James also recently picked up a hamstring injury, which could sideline him for a considerable period.
Hence, the west London giants, who had been linked with a move for Everton’s Lucas Digne, might prioritise signing someone like Dest, who is versatile enough to play on either flank. Indeed, the Barcelona youngster is primarily a right-back but can do the job on the opposite wing as well, meaning he can provide sufficient cover and competition for both Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso.
Barcelona, for their part, are open to a sale, as iterated earlier. And the report further goes on to add that they would demand a sum of around €20 million to part ways with the full-back – a figure that should not be a problem for Chelsea.
Dest is believed to be keen on staying put at Camp Nou. But given Barcelona’s urgent need for funds, a departure seems like a strong possibility. Whether he ends up moving to Stamford Bridge before the end of the month remains to be seen.
