Sergino Dest has ‘no intention’ of leaving La Liga giants Barcelona in the transfer window despite interest from Premier League outfit Arsenal, agent Michael Reschke tells BILD.
While getting Philippe Coutinho’s eye-watering wages off the books felt like a major step in the right direction, loosening the vice-like grip around Barca necks and allowing the Catalan kings to breathe that little bit easier, the Camp Nou car-boot sale is still very much on.
Samuel Umtiti was forced to accept a substantial pay cut on Monday, an agreement which freed up enough funds to register Ferran Torres and ensure Barcelona would not foul of La Liga’s salary cap laws (Athletic).
Damning indeed. And, in an ideal scenario, Coutinho is not the only player who will find a new club before the month is out.
Marca reported in December that Sergino Dest, the jet-heeled USA international who arrived from Ajax in the summer of 2020, was in danger of being sacrificed by the FFP gods.
And the shock return of 38-year-old Dani Alves, who kick-started his second Barca spell with an assist in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Granada, will do the 21-year-old’s hopes of a larger role in Xavi’s plans no harm at all.
Could Sergino Dest be on his way to Arsenal?
Yet, despite attracting the interest of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, Dutch-born Dest is not ready to accept defeat and walk away just yet.
“Dest has no intention of changing clubs,” says Reschke. “I’m quite sceptical about a possible transfer to Bayern this summer.”
Despite the recent arrival of Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna, Arsenal remain in the market for a new right-sided defenders.
Dest is one of a number of exciting full-backs on the Gunners’ wishlist, alongside Tariq Lamptey, Colin Dagba and Nordi Mukiele.
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