Chelsea are “considering a £30m move” for Barcelona defender Sergino Dest, who would come in as cover for Ben Chilwell, according to reports.
Chilwell hobbled off as Chelsea beat Juventus 4-0 in the Champions League group stages last month.
Thomas Tuchel later confirmed that the defender had picked up a “partial” ACL injury.
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The Express are reporting that Chelsea are plotting a move for Barcelona’s Dest to ease their issues at full-back. The Blues are said to be prepared to bid around £30m for him.
The 21-year-old joined Barcelona last year from Ajax for a fee that could rise to £22m. He has played 57 times for the Spanish giants and that includes 16 appearances this season.
Chelsea are set to face Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa on Boxing Day. Gerrard has insisted that his young players have his “trust” as they will be called upon against Thomas Tuchel’s side:
“They’ve certainly got my trust and my confidence.
“If I ask any player who has little experience to play. Their performance is on me because I’ve put them in at the deep end.
“I’m in a situation where, depending on how it goes in the next two to three days, that we might have to call upon players who are on the fringe, or players from the academy.
Gerrard said he shared the same concern as West Ham counterpart David Moyes, who feels clubs who have given youth a chance could now be inadvertently punished.
“Now that is not right,” Gerrard said. “But because we played a lot of players in a League Cup game against Barrow, the Premier League class them now as having first-team experience.
“You’re trying to be club that gives kids an opportunity. But during this Covid situation this could backfire and I also heard David Moyes say something similar.
“He gave people an opportunity in a European game to offload some of his first-team players. Then that could come back to bite him.
“That’s the way it is, but what I can say is I’ve got every confidence, belief and trust that these kids do need an opportunity and if I have to call on them I will do.”
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