Man Utd and Barcelona’s surprise swap deal
FT Desk
- 30 Aug 2022 06:20 CDT
- 3 min read
Manchester United and Barcelona are working on a swap deal that would see the trade of each club’s right-backs, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Sergino Dest.
Both clubs have been looking to let go of their respective players and this could be a deal that works for the pair of the clubs, which would interest them in a late move.
The Red Devils want a new right-back to provide competition for Diogo Dalot, and Erik ten Hag has already worked with Dest before, when the pair were at Ajax before Barcelona bought the American in 2020.
Wan-Bissaka, meanwhile, is one of five right-backs Barcelona targeted earlier in the window, along with others such as Villarreal’s Juan Foyth.
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Dalot, Manchester United’s current first-choice, has had a stellar start to the season, contributing to the winner in their 1-0 success over Southampton over the weekend.
Ten Hag still wants to add more depth, though, and doesn’t feel Wan-Bissaska is suited to his style of football that he wishes to implement over the course of his time at Barcelona.
Getting another right-back was one of the core priorities heading into the season for Ten Hag, along with a new forward and at least one new midfielder.
🚨🚨| Today is the day! Mateu Alemany is working on the departures of Aubameyang, Dest, Pjanic, Abde & Braithwaite; along with the signings of Alonso, a right-back & a certain player.@gerardromero [🎖️]
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) August 30, 2022
Barcelona, meanwhile, also wish to strengthen in both full-back positions, having been depleted in both areas heading into this season.
They’ve had to use the likes of Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde in that role in their opening matches of the season to make up for the lack of quality on that side, and that’s wasting the best of their talents at centre-back.
Xavi is willing to let Dest go, and has left him out of matchday squads at the start of the season, which has been a clear indication that he’s awaiting offers from other clubs for the player.
Getting a swap deal done at this late stage of the window will prove to be quite difficult, and although the deal seems unlikely, it’s still a possibility.
