Chelsea have reportedly been handed a setback in their attempts to sign Barcelona’s Sergino Dest.
According to Fabrizio Romano, a move for the American is now in doubt, as he hopes to stay at the Nou Camp.
Dest made 21 La Liga appearances last season, featuring on both flanks whilst also making nine appearances in Europe.
Reports have circulated stating the USA international is on Thomas Tuchel’s radar, with it being claimed yesterday by 90 Minutes that he has been mentioned as a potential makeweight as the Catalan club continue to chase Marcos Alonso.
This comes after injuries and a return of club legend Dani Alves saw his opportunities become more limited, with Dest failing to feature in nine of Barca’s last 13 league games.
But with Alves not signing a contract extension, Dest is hoping to take advantage of the situation and wants to stick around at the Nou Camp.
Romano says: “Barcelona plans are clear after Dani Alves departure: Xavi wants César Azpilicueta, two-year deal proposal still on the table but Tuchel is trying to keep Azpi at Chelsea. Sergiño Dest hopes to continue at Barça.”
Azpilicueta has long been linked with a move back to his native country, with it being reported he and teammate Alonso could be on their way to the Nou Camp.
While this may pose a threat to the £24m man Dest, his ambition to stay at the club suggests he is confident he can nail down a starting place, a factor which may play into Azpilicueta’s thinking.
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Leadership is a trait the Blues are not too stacked in, and losing the voice of Azpilicueta in the same season as Antonio Rudiger could end up being costly.
While he didn’t quite reach his career heights last season, his experience and versatility makes him a viable option for both centre-back and full-back, positions the Blues are particularly short in.
This should convince the club to do everything they can to keep the Spain international, especially if a deal for Dest doesn’t look likely.