Barcelona outcast Sergino Dest attracting interest from Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace could battle Fulham for the signing of Barcelona right-back Sergino Dest this summer.

Barcelona are willing to offload Sergino Dest for a minimal fee as he is not part of manager Xavi Hernandez’s plans moving forwards. The USA international, 22, is returning from an underwhelming loan spell at AC Milan, where he managed only eight Serie A appearances. Milan had a €20million buy option but didn’t trigger it after his lacklustre displays when given opportunities. As a result, Barcelona are actively looking for suitors for him this summer.

In what could be a big boost for the Spanish champions, Dest is reportedly attracting interest from Premier League duo Crystal Palace and Fulham. While the 22-year-old has a €400 million release clause fixed in his contract which runs until 2025, Barcelona are willing to listen to offers for him at around €17 million.

Sergino Dest could be a good fit at Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace are looking to bolster their squad in the summer transfer window after a mixed 2022/23 Premier League campaign. So far, they’ve only managed to sign Jefferson Lerma on a free transfer from Bournemouth.

Roy Hodgson, who will be the Eagles’ boss for the upcoming season, seems to be eyeing a new right-back this summer, with Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne well into their 30s. Clyne has agreed to a new one-year contract extension with the club, but Hodgson certainly wants a young right-back to compete with him and Ward next term.

As a result, the signing of Sergino Dest could be the perfect opportunity to bring in a young player who can make the right-back spot his own and eventually replace one of Ward or Clyne in the long term. Dest’s move to Barcelona and subsequently the loan move to AC Milan hasn’t worked as per the plan but he is still 22 and has plenty of time to turn around his career.

The USA international is immense from an attacking point of view, combining his pace with technical skills to keep his opposite number at bay. He likes to link up with the right-winger in front of him and make those clever overlapping runs, something Clyne and Ward don’t do enough to provide Palace with the creativity required to unlock rigid defences. The ex-Ajax star isn’t defensively sound, however, so he must improve in this aspect under Roy Hodgson.

Overall, Dest is a quality full-back/wing-back who needs a change of environment to kickstart his career. And if Palace make a move, he must grab the opportunity with both hands.