Manchester City keeping a close watch on Barca starlet
Manchester City are ready to sign Ferran Torres’ replacement as they are said to be interested in a Barcelona starlet. The player in question in Sergino Dest. This comes as per the Spanish outlet, Mundo Depotivo.
Dest, 21, has struggled for game time under Xavi and seems to have lost his place in the XI, after being a regular starter under the former boss, Ronald Koeman. Xavi is not said to be too keen to count on the player, who has looked clueless on the field on more than one occasion.
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Koeman exploited Dest’s versatility to good effect by deploying him on the attacking flanks on many occasions. The American’s finishing abilities have been his Achilles heel though. This season alone, there have been a minimum of two occasions where Barca should have buried the game but the full-back’s finishing let him and the team down on those occasions.
Pep Guardiola, though, believes that the 21-year-old can reach his full potential at City, playing under him. Moreover, the Cityzens feel that Dest can be a good replacement for Ferran Torres, playing as a full-back and on the wings, if necessary.
Bayern Munich are also said to be in the race to sign the USMNT star as Julian Nagelsmann looks for the perfect RB to complete his jigsaw. The former RB Leipzig boss is also said to be an admirer of the player and believes that his attacking style of play will only help the Bavarians.
Barcelona are said to be demanding a fee in the range of €21 million for the young full-back, who only joined the club last summer, with a £19 million deal being agreed between Barca and Ajax, last summer.
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Barcelona have also been linked with Ajax’s Noussair Mazraoui as they are said to be looking ‘past’ the American full-back and would part ways with him should a suitable offer arrive. Moreover, the former La Liga champions want to sign Mazraoui as they believe that it could strengthen the relationship between the board and Mazraoui’s agent, Mino Raiola, thus pushing their case for Erling Haaland next summer.
For now, it does seem likely that Dest will leave Barcelona but the player is said to be keen on succeeding at the Camp Nou and it remains to be seen what Barca decide on his future.