AC Milan are reportedly set to beat Manchester United to the signature of Barcelona right-back Sergino Dest.
The 21-year-old has allegedly been informed by head coach Xavi that he is not part of his plans going forward and the Catalan giants are willing to offload the youngster before the transfer window shuts.
Man United have been credited with an interest in the USA international throughout this summer, and a recent report claims that they have held talks with Barca over a possible loan deal.
The Red Devils are understood to have identified Dest as a potential replacement for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who has been linked with both West Ham United and Crystal Palace.
Wan-Bissaka has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford, with Diogo Dalot preferred ahead of him by Erik ten Hag, and the 24-year-old has featured for just four minutes as a substitute so far this season.
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Despite United's interest in Dest, journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that they are set to lose out in the race for his signature to Scudetto holders AC Milan.
Romano claims that the Italian giants have reached an agreement with Barcelona to sign Dest on a season-long loan deal with a €20m (£17.3m) option to buy next summer.
Should Milan decide to purchase Dest permanently in 2023, the right-back has agreed to sign a four-year contract to keep him at San Siro until the summer of 2027.
The former Ajax man is understood to have arrived in Milan on Wednesday ahead of undergoing his medical and putting pen to paper on his contract.
Dest is set to become Milan's sixth signing of the summer window after the arrivals of Charles De Ketelaere, Divock Origi, Junior Messias, Alessandro Florenzi and Malick Thiaw.
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Since joining Barcelona in 2020, Dest has made a total of 72 appearances for the Catalan club across all competitions, including 23 starts last season.
However, the American is now deemed surplus to requirements at Camp Nou, with Xavi on the lookout for a new right-back, while the likes of Sergi Roberto, Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde are his preferred first-team options at present.
Dest will now be hoping to get his career back on track in Italy and is set to compete with Florenzi and Davide Calabria for a place at right-back in Stefano Pioli's starting lineup.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have reportedly agreed to loan 33-year-old left-back Jordi Alba to Inter Milan for the 2022-23 campaign.
Oliver Thomas
