Manchester United have had Sergino Dest on their radar even before the arrival of Erik ten Hag, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.
The Barcelona defender, who worked with Ten Hag at Ajax, is currently being linked with a move to Old Trafford.
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What is the latest news involving Dest?
According to SPORT, as well as Frenkie de Jong, United are also interested in Dest and are open to the idea of signing him on a permanent transfer this summer.
The same outlet states that Barcelona would want at least €20m (£16.8m) after spending £23.8m on him in total back in 2020.
The former Ajax man would not be the first full-back to arrive at United during this transfer window, with the Manchester club having already signed Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord.
His transfer has paved the way for Alex Telles to join Sevilla on loan, and it will be interesting to see if a potential Dest arrival could impact Aaron Wan-Bissaka in a similar way.
What has Jones said about Dest to United?
Jones thinks the Dest links were always inevitable given the Ten Hag connection. At the same time, though, the journalist says United's interest in the right-back is not new.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "He's been on Man Utd's radar before, even before Ten Hag was there. Obviously with his Ajax links this was always going to crop up again if United were to look in this position."
Why is Ten Hag interested in Dest?
Dest is, of course, a player Ten Hag already knows. He played 38 times under the Dutchman at Ajax, so he has clearly earned his trust.
Over the last year, Dest has ranked in the 98th percentile for progressive carries, the 98th for dribbles completed and the 94th for touches in the attacking penalty area among his positional peers (via FBref), so he looks like he could be a very good attacking full-back for United.
Wan-Bissaka, on the other hand, has ranked in the 60th percentile for progressive carries and the 42nd for touches in the attacking penalty area. For dribbles completed, he is in the 95th percentile, which is much better. But it is clear to see that Dest is the much better right-back going forward.
With that in mind, it would come as no shock if Ten Hag allowed Wan-Bissaka to depart Old Trafford this summer and replaced him with the USA international. It is certainly one to keep an eye on while the transfer window remains open.