Manchester United and Barcelona are reportedly negotiating a deal for Sergino Dest, with the Red Devils offering Diogo Dalot in part exchange.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Manchester United and Barcelona are deep in negotiations over a possible move for Sergino Dest in the ongoing transfer window. The Red Devils have offered Portuguese full-back Diogo Dalot in a part-exchange deal involving the 21-year-old defender.
Sergino Dest has been with Barcelona for nearly two years. But the former Ajax defender has failed to cement his spot as a regular for the Blaugrana in the past couple of seasons, with his stature reducing since Xavi Hernandez took over from Ronald Koeman last year.
The 21-year-old has chipped in with three goals and four assists in 72 appearances thus far for Barcelona. But as Barcelona looked to secure the services of a right-back this summer, Dest’s fate looked to be sealed at Camp Nou in the summer transfer window. While Cesar Azpilicueta will not arrive at the Catalan club, Dest still faces an uncertain future, with Manchester United keen on signing him.
The interest from Manchester United stems from the inconsistencies of Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. While the former struggles in the defensive phases, the latter offers nothing in the final third, accentuating the need for Manchester United to invest in a right-back this summer.
Dest has thus emerged as a viable target for Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag looking to reunite with the 21-year-old defender at Old Trafford. But instead of shelling out Barcelona’s asking price for the USMNT international, Manchester United will look to engineer a part-exchange deal to sign him.
The Red Devils have offered Dalot in the deal to sign Dest, with the Portuguese full-back strangely surplus to requirements at Old Trafford despite uncertainties surrounding Wan-Bissaka’s future, as per SPORT. The exchange between Manchester United and Barcelona seems ideal, but the Catalan giants are unlikely to accept the offer.
It will be interesting to see if Manchester United will present a more serious bid to sign the 21-year-old defender as he continues to face an uncertain future at Camp Nou. But the part-exchange deal involving Dalot and Dest will unlikely see the light of day.