Sergino Dest has made only two starts for Milan since missing out on Manchester United move

Add as preferred source on Google

Manchester United are not expected to be hugely busy in the January transfer window but one position which does require strengthening is right-back.

Diogo Dalot has started every game this season to date, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been given just four minutes of playing time – and didn’t even start a pre-season match.

One player United were linked with in the summer was Barcelona defender Sergino Dest, who previously worked with Erik ten Hag at Ajax, before he was sold to the La Liga side for £19 million.

Spanish newspaper AS reported in late August that Dest was keen on a move to Manchester United and viewed the club as a good exit route for him.

The feeling was not reciprocated, with United electing not to sign Dest even though he was made available by Barcelona.

The US international ended up signing for AC Milan on a season-long loan, and the move has not gone too well.

Sergino Dest has made only two starts for Milan

The right-back has done nothing on loan at AC Milan so far to signal Manchester United were wrong not to pursue his signature.

Dest has failed to establish himself in the reigning Serie A champions’ starting XI since joining the club, and has made only two starts, one in the league and one in the Champions League.

He has a further six appearances from the bench, with Davide Calabria preferred by AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli.

Calciomercato.com reported last month: “The player does not convince the coaching staff just yet. He is not used yet to the tactics of Stefano Pioli and the style of play of the Serie A giants.”

The full-back is expected to be part of the USA squad for the upcoming World Cup, pending fitness. SI.com report he was kept out of Milan’s Champions League game last week with an injury as a precaution.

Manchester United will be looking elsewhere for a new right-back, with German reporter Florian Plettenberg claiming the club have been scouting Bayer Leverkusen ace Jeremie Frimpong.

He is having a more productive campaign, with the 21-year-old scoring five times in 13 Bundesliga matches.