Chelsea reported to be preparing offer for Barcelona's Sergiño Dest

Chelsea are planning to take Sergiño Dest off Barcelona's hands in next month's transfer window. At least that is what being reported in the UK by The Daily Express, who claim that the Premier League club are preparing a 30 million euro offer which will reach the offices at Camp Nou over the next few days. With César Azpilicueta expected to leave the club, Chelsea will have be short-staffed at right-back, where they have just Reece James - who incidentally is having an excellent season. Thomas Tüchel would prefer to have the position well-covered and sees the United States international as a promise for the future and an option worth taking a gamble on.

Barcelona squad reshuffle

In the meantime, Barcelona are busy trying to find outlets for a number of players so that they can reduce their wages bill and register any new signings they make in the January window, plus emerging B team stars Nico and Gavi as fully signed up members of the first team squad. Their hopes of selling everyone on their list are a little over-optimistic - expecially in the cases of Coutinho and Umitti... Both are players with history of injuries, both earn high salaries and have spent a long time without playing anywhere near the level expected at Barça. Others however, will be relatively easy to sell - as in the case of Dest.

The former Ajax defender hasn't been able to find his place at Camp Nou. Koeman tried him out as a wing-back whenever he had players out injured or suspensed and to be fair, Dest usually performed well. But a few mistakes, especially when he played at right-back, and for his poor finishing, left him without a chance to further his development. All of that put into question whether he really is the player that Barça has envisoned as being the first-choice right-back for the next few years. And unfortunately for Dest, the club recently re-signed Dani Alves, on Xavi's wishes - and the veteran full-back is ahead of him in the pecking order.

Xavi has never been entirely convinced by Dest and the player's injury problems haven't helped. Barcelona need revenue and they need to reduce the wages bills and register Ferran Torres and any other reinforcements. All things considered, and bearing mind how difficult it will be finding a new club for Coutinho, Chelsea's offer for Dest would be certainly be attractive for Barcelona. But it remains to be seen how Barça respond to the idea of letting a young player with untapped potential leave so early into his career. For now, The Daily Express report that there is interest for the player, and an offer is imminent.