Barcelona have had a bid of €20 million plus add ons accepted by Ajax for USMNT defender Sergino Dest, sources have told ESPN.
Dest, 19, and his representatives are discussing personal terms as Ronald Koeman closes in on his first signing as Barca boss.
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Bayern Munich were also in the race, according to ESPN sources, but have not been able to agree a deal with Ajax for the right back.
Koeman has had a long-standing interest in Dest. When he was Netherlands manager, he tried to persuade Dest to declare for the Oranje, but Dest opted for the USMNT.
It’s been a remarkable rise for Dest, who has only played one full season of first-team football at Ajax.
But as Koeman starts his Barcelona rebuild, he has turned to Dest as the first piece of the jigsaw. Barca’s interest in Dest was always dependent on players leaving Camp Nou.
Nelson Semedo‘s departure to Wolverhampton Wanderers freed up transfer funds to allow Barca to make an official approach for Dest and, after four days of negotiations, the two clubs have now come to an agreement.
As of Sunday, Dest’s representatives were in discussions with Barcelona over personal terms, sources told ESPN, and if Dest accepts Barca’s contract offer he will then fly over to Spain to undergo a medical.