Could Arsenal be Dest’s Destination?

Made available by Barca?

As we discussed in a piece earlier today, Arsenal, seemed to be moving away from the haphazard transfer policy of recent years and have a clear focus to their business this summer. It is no longer a case of looking here for the best gambles, with free players on high wages but more a clear policy to not only buy young players with potential to peak at Arsenal but also to tie down the talent already at the club who fit profile.

Last summer both Saka and Martinelli were secured on long-term contracts and more recently Balogun and Tierney committed to the club for the long haul. In the next week we all expect to here that Emile Smith Rowe has signed a new deal and to that young core we have added Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and imminently Ben White. Of course, within the young core we also have Gabriel and Pepe still with good time on their deals and Thomas Partey, Rob Holding and the skipper Aubameyang on long contracts.

Is it farewell Hector?

With Hector Bellerin seemingly leaving this summer, with Inter Milan the rumoured destination, one of the next new arrivals may well be a young, up and coming right back to challenge Calum Chambers, who made the position his own at the end of 2020/21.  One player who fits the profile is Dutch born, USA international right back, Sergio Dest. Dest only made the switch to his current club. Bacrelona, last season, after breaking through at Ajax, but at only 20 he has made the right back berth his own. He featured 30 times in La Liga in his first campaign and is very happy in Spain, but his current employers are somewhat strapped for cash, and Dest is one of the players rumoured to be available for the right price, despite his early success.

Arsenal are said to be an interested suitor and the player is perfect for the rigours of the Premier League and modern fullback role. He is a rampaging attacker with accurate delivery, excellent in possession and certainly better defensively that Bellerin. The Metro reported yesterday that Spanish media outlets are reporting the Gunners interest but at the seemingly low price of £26m for a Barca first teamer, there would be competition, with Juve and Bayern both mentioned. If the player is convinced to leave the Camp Nou, the offer of guaranteed regular first team action might give Arteta and Edu an advantage over the European competition on offer elsewhere.

Man in possession of right back slot

If Dest is not possible, then perhaps Chambers will begin the season for Arsenal with Cedric Soares as back up, with Arsenal investing the money they hope to receive for Bellerin and others in the midfield areas. Interesting times ahead between now and the first match on 13^th August.

Dave Seager

Passionate fifty-something Arsenal supporter who has been making the journey to N5 regularly since the early 1980s – although his first game was in 1976. Always passionate when talking about The Arsenal, Dave decided to send a guest blog to Gunnersphere in the summer of 2011 and has not stopped writing about the Gunners since.

He set up his own site – 1 Nil Down 2 One Up – in February 2012, which he moved on in 2016 to concentrate on freelance writing and building Gunners Town, which he launched with Paul in 2014.

The objective of GT was to be new and fresh and to give a platform for likeminded passionate Arsenal fans wishing to write about their team. Dave still of course, writes for the site himself and advises the ever-changing writing crew.