KEY POINTS

  • Man Utd want to sign Sergino Dest from Barcelona
  • Dest has fallen down Xavi's pecking order
  • Man Utd have failed to convince Barca's Frenkie de Jong to join them

FC Barcelona and Manchester United are reportedly discussing a swap deal before the summer window closes. But the transfer will not see the Red Devils securing their top target Frenkie de Jong.

Signing a new right full-back and a goalkeeper have been Erik ten Hag's top priorities before the transfer window closes Wednesday, according to soccer outlet Teamtalk. While Manchester United have reached a loan deal with Newcastle for goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka, the club is now trying to sign Barcelona right-back Sergino Dest.

After failing to secure De Jong this summer, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has turned his focus to Barcelona yet again but this time, the target is American defender Dest. They want to do a swap deal that would see the 21-year-old move to Old Trafford and Red Devils right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Camp Nou, reported SPORT.

Wan-Bissaka moved to Manchester United from Crystal Palace in 2019 and was impressive under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's charge. The 24-year-old defender has fallen behind Diogo Dalot in Ten Hag's pecking order as he has played only four minutes in Premier League this term, which came in the Red Devils' 2-1 victory over Liverpool earlier this month.

Earlier this summer, Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez made his stance clear about not having Dest in his plans. He desperately tried to sign Chelsea's 33-year-old César Azpilicueta. Unfortunately, the latter extended his contract with the Blues.

Three games into the 2022-23 La Liga, Dest has not featured for Barcelona yet. While he was an unused substitute in Barcelona's opening game that ended in a 0-0 draw, he was not even in the squad for their fixtures against Real Sociedad and Real Valladolid, which the Catalans won 4-1 and 4-0.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Aaron Wan-Bissaka of Manchester United runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League group F match between BSC Young Boys and Manchester United at Stadion Wankdorf on September 14, 2021 in Bern, Switzerland. Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

Ten Hag has managed Dest, along with De Jong, in the past at Ajax. The Dutchman recently signed a couple of more of his former pupils: center-back Lisandro Martinez and forward Antony, both from Ajax. The latter has completed his medical and is expected to be officially announced as a Manchester United player Tuesday.