In the coming weeks, Premier League side Arsenal are expected to lose Hector Bellerin to Inter Milan and according to Sport, Mikel Arteta wants Barcelona full-back Sergino Dest as his replacement.
Bellerin is eager to join the Serie A giants this summer and according to most experts, Arsenal are going to cash in on him. And once that deal is done, the Gunners are likely to formally move for Dest.
As per the report, Barcelona value Sergino Dest at around £25.7 million, a transfer fee which Arsenal are willing to meet at the moment.
Who is Sergino Dest?
Sergino Dest is a product of the Ajax youth academy who joined FC Barcelona last summer for a fee of £18.9 million.
During the 2020-21 season, the right-back 44 games across all competitions for the Catalans(scoring three goals), both as a full-back as well as a right-sided midfielder.
The 20-year-old is also an American international and has played 11 games for his national side since making his debut in 2019.
Will Arsenal be able to right the right-back?
Arsenal are demanding £17 million for Hector Bellerin’s sale and if this deal goes through, financing Dest’s transfer should not be an issue for the Premier League side.
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But, they are not the only club who are interested in signing Sergino Dest since Bayern Munich are also being heavily linked with the right-back.
Dest has made it clear that he wishes to remain at Barcelona beyond the summer but since Barca need to slash their wage bill, there’s every chance the club will sell multiple senior players before the new season kicks off.
Once Antoine Griezmann moves out, a lot of the wage burden will be reduced but that does not mean someone like Sergino Dest will be off the market immediately.
