While the club is moving on the market, having already made three signings, Barcelona remain active looking for sales and departures to clear up space in the salary margin.
Samuel Umtiti was the first one to leave Catalonia after reaching an agreement to part ways with the club, and one of the players who is expected to follow the Frenchman in the exiting direction is Sergino Dest.
The American right-back had an underwhelming stint at Barcelona so far after signing with the Catalan giants from Ajax in 2020. The 22-year-old spent the last season on loan at AC Milan, where he failed to impress once again.
However, returning to Barcelona this summer, it seems that he does not have a place at the Blaugrana either, with his continuity being ruled out by the technical staff.
As Javi Miguel recently reported, the coaching staff believes that the American’s time at the club is up and it would be the better decision to part ways with the young right-back, both for sporting and economic reasons.
The club coaches express skepticism about the 22-year-old’s tactical aptitude for Xavi’s system. Moreover, his annual salary surpasses €10 million, presenting a financial hurdle for Barcelona amidst their efforts to reduce wages. Consequently, these factors contribute to the club’s concerns regarding his potential fit within the squad.
Due to his age and ability to develop, Dest still has a notable market value which could boost the Catalans’ budget for further transfers as well.
Thus, with the only natural right-back leaving the squad, it’s a priority for the Blaugrana club to reinforce the right flank of the defense. As the same report states, Joao Cancelo remains the top target for the position, who could arrive on a loan deal.
Real Valladolid’s Iván Fresneda has also emerged as a possibility, and the Catalans’ interest in the 18-year-old Spaniard is well-documented, but reportedly there is no consensus among the Barcelona higher-ups regarding his signing, while the Juan Foyth option is ruled out because of the high price that Villarreal is asking for the Argentine defender.
