Sergino Dest reportedly has no intention of joining Chelsea this month and is looking to win over Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Sergino Dest does not have any interest in joining Chelsea in the ongoing transfer window. The Blues were prepared to shell out €20 million to secure his services, but the USMNT international wants to remain at Barcelona to win over Xavi Hernandez.
Sergino Dest joined Barcelona from Ajax in October 2020 and has since endured a topsy-turvy ride at Camp Nou. While the 21-year-old has shown flashes of the immense talent he possesses, his inconsistencies have gotten the better of him far too often.
The USMNT international has made 57 appearances to date for Barcelona, chipping in with three goals and four assists in the process. But Dest’s future at Barcelona is uncertain, with Xavi Hernandez not taking a fancy to him. And his situation has captured the attention of several clubs across Europe, including Chelsea.
The interest from Chelsea stems from Reece James and Ben Chilwell’s absence due to long-term injuries. The wing-back duo’s unavailability has left Thomas Tuchel shortchanged for options in the two positions, with Marcos Alonso the only recognised wing-back at his disposal, considering Cesar Azpilicueta mostly plays in a back three these days.
As a result, the Blues are keen on signing a wing-back in the ongoing transfer window while also trying to recall Emerson Palmieri from his loan spell at Lyon. Those attempts have not borne any fruit thus far, which is why signing at least one wing-back is becoming increasingly imperative for Chelsea.
Dest is thus a viable target for the west London club. The Premier League heavyweights are also prepared to meet Barcelona’s €20 million asking price to secure his services before the January transfer window slams shut. But Dest has no interest in joining Chelsea this month.
The 21-year-old instead wants to win over Xavi Hernandez in the second half of the campaign and continue his dream of playing for Barcelona. That might be a difficult prospect as former Ajax teammate Noussair Mazraoui is a target for the Catalans as a possible summer replacement for Dest, with the Moroccan international keen on joining the club.
But a €20 million January move to Chelsea might still be out of the question, even though the Blues and Barcelona are closing in on reaching an agreement over the transfer fee. The west Londoners will thus have to seek alternate solutions to solve their wing-back woes or continue with the experiment of playing Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi in hybrid roles.