Bayern Munich and Barcelona are battling it out for the signing of Ajax defender Sergiño Dest, with the Dutch club looking to secure a ‘top prize’ if they are to sell.
That’s according to NOS, who say the German champions are already ‘negotiating’ with Ajax for the 19-year-old.
However, Barcelona ‘also informed’ the Dutch side of their interest on Tuesday and thus the two are now fighting for his signature.
Neither side have an agreement, and Bayern have already seen two bids rejected for him, although there is no mention of what they offered.
Barcelona’s interest is ‘serious’, but they have not held talks with Ajax as of yet, having needed to get players out of the door beforehand.
Arturo Vidal, Ivan Rakitic and Arda Turan have already left, with Nelson Semedo and Luis Suarez looking likely to follow in the near future.
That will free up funds and wages for new manager Ronald Koeman to add his own players although NOS says it is ‘not entirely clear’ whether they will go ‘all out’ to secure Dest.
That’s because they’ve already been linked to Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay and it’s not clear which signing would be given priority.
That could allow Bayern to steal in and secure his signature with a third bid that would satisfy Ajax’s demands.
The Dutch, and specifically their director of football Marc Overmars, are therefore ‘in control’ and have made it clear they will only sell Dest for ‘the top prize’.
They’re considering a price of between €18m-25m, which, it seems, neither club have matched at this moment in time.
The player, for his part, has ‘set his sights’ on a transfer. He doesn’t necessarily want to leave but knows that big clubs such as Barça and Bayern do not come forward all the time and wants to make the step forward if it’s there.
Therefore, he needs to wait and see which one of the two can find an agreement with Ajax and then make a decision about it himself.
