Dutch side PSV are reportedly leading the race to sign Barcelona defender Sergiño Dest, with French club Nice and an unnamed English club also interested in the United States international.
Dest set out this summer to stake a claim to a first-team spot, with right-back the one clear vacancy. A number of uninspiring performances in the pre-season put an end to that dream and Xavi has given the all-clear for Dest to leave the club this summer.
Now, according to a report in Mundo Deportivo, PSV is at the head of the pack for Dest with a reported loan option on the table.
Could a return to the Eredivisie recapture Dest’s best form?
Back in 2020, Dest was one of the most sought-after defenders in world football, and his form for Ajax convinced Barcelona to table a €26 million offer, made up of €21 million up-front and €5 million in variables.
Unfortunately, despite playing over 50 times for Barca, his form has been incredibly inconsistent.
He spent last season on loan at AC Milan in Serie A but made just 8 appearances due to his poor form.
This pre-season he was given the run-around by Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka and Real Madrid man Vinícius Júnior. Those two performances sealed his exit, with Barca working hard to find potential suitors.
Ronald Araujo who is a centre-back, was preferred as the starting right-back at the weekend in the 0-0 draw in Getafe.
Xavi has made it clear that Barca is looking to bring in a new right-back with Joao Cancelo the preferred target, although that deal now appears to be in danger of being hijacked by Arsenal.
PSV finished runners-up last year to Feyenoord and has started the 2023/24 season well.
The Eindhoven-based team won their first Eredivisie match 2-0 at home to FC Utrecht having dominated the game from start to finish. They also eased past Austrian outfit SK Sturm Graz in the first round of the UEFA Champions League qualifying 7-2 on aggregate.
PSV will now play Scottish side Rangers for a place in the Champions League group stage.
Sergino Dest available on loan for PSV
Considering the inconsistent form shown by Dest over the last two years, Barcelona have yet to receive any concrete offers for a permanent transfer, and it’s believed that if Dest is to leave this summer, he’ll do so on loan.
If PSV can cover the majority of his wages in any potential loan deal, that will open up financial flexibility for Barca to register Marcos Alonso, Iñaki Peña and Iñigo Martínez, there three players who remain unregistered.
If Dest can recapture his best form by returning to a familiar league in the Eredivisie, PSV will surely have the option of making the move permanent next summer, and considering Barca are keen to move Dest off the books and the American’s contract runs out in 2025, they’d probably get him on a cut-price deal as well.