Premier League heavyweights Chelsea have reportedly set their sights on Barcelona defender Sergino Dest over a move this summer.
According to reputed Spanish journalist Gerard Romero, Sergino Dest is the subject of interest from Chelsea over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The Blues could sign the Barcelona defender as a potential replacement for Cesar Azpilicueta, who might join the Blaugrana soon.
Sergino Dest has struggled to progress satisfactorily since joining Barcelona from Ajax nearly two years ago. The USMNT international was brimming with potential but has been in and out of the starting lineups in the last couple of seasons, with Dani Alves’s return to Camp Nou pushing him down the pecking order last term.
While Alves is no longer a part of Barcelona, Dest’s future remains uncertain. The 21-year-old started just 23 of the 53 games that Barcelona played this past season and could depart from Camp Nou in the summer transfer window. And Chelsea could offer him an escape route out of Barcelona.
The interest from Chelsea is not a new development, with the Blues previously expressing their desire to secure the services of the Barcelona defender. Chelsea might need to invest in a new right wing-back, despite Reece James’s excellent performances, with Cesar Azpilicueta keen on departing from Stamford Bridge.
The Chelsea captain is on Barcelona’s radar and is looking to embark on a new adventure before he reaches the final phase of his career. Dest has thus emerged as a viable target to replace Azpilicueta, with the USMNT international potentially being a perfect fit in Thomas Tuchel’s system.
Barcelona will unlikely stop Dest from leaving, with recent reports claiming they have slapped a €20 million price tag on him. And with Chelsea lining up a move for Dest, the 21-year-old might soon be on his way to Stamford Bridge, especially if Azpilicueta arrives at Camp Nou.
It will be interesting to see how things develop in the coming days, with Chelsea and Barcelona locked in discussions over several players. Whether Dest is involved in these talks remains to be seen as we approach the start of the two clubs’ pre-season campaigns.
