Barcelona are reportedly demanding a sum of €20 million for defender Sergino Dest, who is a target for several clubs across Europe, including Arsenal.
According to a report from Italian outlet CalcioNapoli24, Barcelona have set a price tag of €20 million on right-back Sergino Dest, who is on the radars of Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich, among other clubs.
Dest signed for Barcelona in 2020 from AFC Ajax in a deal worth around €25 million, including add-ons. However, the USMNT defender has found the going tough at Camp Nou and has struggled for game-time this season under Xavi Hernandez. While he has shown some improvement of late, his future at Barcelona remains uncertain.
The Catalans are close to completing the signing of Noussair Mazraoui on a free transfer, while they are also looking to renew Dani Alves’s contract by another year. This situation would leave Dest well down the pecking order, leading to speculations of an exit at the end of the season.
There has been interest from Bayern Munich, while Serie A giants Napoli and AS Roma have also been linked. Some reports in Italy had claimed that Barcelona were offering Napoli a chance to sign the 21-year-old Dest in the upcoming campaign. However, the report above refutes that claim but adds Arsenal’s name as a suitor for the right-back.
Arsenal are in the market for a new right-sided full-back as they seek cover and competition for Takehiro Tomiyasu. The Gunners have Cedric Soares as a backup currently, and the Portuguese ace has done quite well in recent weeks with Tomiyasu sidelined with an injury. But, his future at the Emirates beyond the ongoing campaign is unclear, leading to the club looking for alternatives.
Arsenal have also been linked with Mazraoui, but with the Moroccan likely to join Barcelona, they are in search of other options, with Dest seemingly emerging as one. Apart from Arsenal, it is claimed that Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich are also keeping tabs on the 21-year-old right-back.
The report states that Barcelona would be reluctant to sell Dest, but they will be open to part ways with the defender if an offer of €20 million arrives. That figure is unlikely to be a problem for Arsenal. But it remains to be seen if the north London club hold a serious interest in Dest and whether they are willing to meet Barcelona’s valuation for him.
