Chelsea are willing to go all-out to sign reported Arsenal target Sergino Dest in the January transfer window after marking the Barcelona defender their top option, according to Sport.
Thomas Tuchel needs urgent reinforcements at Stamford Bridge after Reece James and Ben Chilwell sustained serious injuries. The German may be without James for a significant spell after suffering a hamstring tear, while Chilwell’s season is over following ACL surgery.
Chelsea now want to give Tuchel a versatile option who can offer depth on both the right and left-hand sides. The west Londoners also believe Barcelona are making a mistake by allowing Dest to leave the Camp Nou this month.
Barcelona are intensifying their bid to sell players who are not earning many games under Xavi Hernandez. So, the Blaugrana deem Dest one they can offload, with the American in high-demand and now behind returning Camp Nou hero Dani Alves in the pecking order.
Bayern Munich have already tested the water to take Dest to Germany on loan this month. Atletico Madrid have also shown an interest with Kieran Trippier joining Newcastle United.
But Chelsea are forcing their way to the front of the queue as they deem Dest a real market opportunity. The Blues are confident the 21-year-old has room to grow and that Barcelona will regret letting him leave. So, are ready to go all-out to bring him to London this month.
Chelsea make Barcelona approach for transfer of Arsenal target Dest
Chelsea have contacted Barcelona to discuss the terms needed for a transfer for Dest, who Marca have linked Arsenal with. The Gunners, like Bayern, have monitored the right-back’s situation, with the Blaugrana chasing €30m-35m (£25m-29m) to sell him in January.
Dest only joined Barcelona for an initial €21m (£17.5m), plus €5m (£4m) in add-ons, from Ajax in October 2020. But he has played just three times for 139-minutes since Xavi joined.
Chelsea’s injury situation may see Tuchel offer Dest the minutes the Arsenal transfer target is not earning at Barcelona. However, Mundo Deportivo note that while interest from clubs like Chelsea has left Dest ‘very flattered’, he still wants to establish himself in Catalunya.
So, Chelsea and Arsenal may struggle to seal a transfer with Barcelona for Dest this month. Possible denying Tuchel and Mikel Arteta a star USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter lauds greatly.
“Sergino is an interesting player because it’s almost like the sky’s the limit for him,” said Berhalter, via quotes by Goal in October. “He can be as good as he wants to be and you saw today with his attacking play. It’s unreal.”
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