Barcelona to grant Sergino Dest lifeline amid Premier League interest

Out-of-sorts Sergino Dest could be given an unlikely chance to revive his Barcelona career amid existing interest from the Premier League.

According to Sport, Barca boss Xavi Hernandez is considering handing the United States international a second chance at Spotify Camp Nou despite a dreadful season-long loan at AC Milan.

Barcelona brought in Dest from Ajax as one of the hottest up-and-comers in 2020, but the 22-year-old couldn’t secure regular first-team football in La Liga at the first bite of the apple.

The defending La Liga champions paid the Dutch powerhouse an initial €21 million fee to land their homegrown product.

But since the move hasn’t worked out, they can hardly get near that figure should they decide to sever ties with Dest.

Desperate to reignite his faltering career, he joined Milan on loan last summer, only to make eight Serie A appearances for the Rossoneri in 2022/23.

Left out in the cold for the whole second half of last season, the USMNT starlet failed to earn a permanent deal at San Siro, forcing Barcelona to take him back this summer.

Though the club’s initial idea was to send the versatile defender out on another loan or sell him straight away, Xavi’s plans have changed amid his stuttering pursuit of Valladolid’s Ivan Fresneda.

Dest has been one of the first Barcelona players to join the pre-season camp after failing to make the United States Gold Cup squad.

Xavi is now willing to give the youngster the benefit of the doubt and play him in the upcoming off-season friendlies before deciding whether to keep or cut him loose.

If Dest fails to meet his manager’s high criteria, his next destination could be the Premier League.

Yesterday’s report from Mundo Deportivo labelled Fulham and Crystal Palace as interested parties, mentioning even Manchester United as outside candidates to sign the right-back.

But with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot competing for a place in Erik ten Hag’s starting XI, it’s hard to imagine the Red Devils targeting the Barcelona flop.