Manchester United working on swap deal with Barcelona

Manchester United are trying to add another player to their squad, with Erik ten Hag attempting to swap one of his players for a Barcelona star.

In the past week or so United have really turned up the intensity on trying to bolster their squad, funnily enough around the same time the fans upped their anti Glazer protests in the middle of their awful start to the season.

It's almost like the American owners were trying to placate the fans, and potentially Ten Hag, following the losses to Brighton and Brentford.

Having struggled to sign a midfielder all summer, suddenly they were boosted into action to sign Casemiro from Real Madrid, which didn't appease the fans that much, whose anti Glazer song was edited out of the video of the midfielder's presentation.

Casemiro welcomed to United during anti Glazer protests at the win over Liverpool. Image: Alamy

That signing has been followed by a huge move for Antony from Ajax, with the forward on the verge of a €100 million move from Old Trafford, which will pocket his former club a fair penny as well.

Now the club have reportedly turned their attention to right back Sergino Dest, who they have been linked with before, with Ten Hag wanting to get rid of his own.

According to SPORT, the two clubs are in talks to swap Dest and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, before Thursday's deadline, with both sides wanting the positive aspects of the other's defender.

Dest is yet to place for Xavi this season. Image: Alamy

Xavi is yet to play Dest in any of Barca's league games so far this season and desperately attempted to sign Cesar Azpilicueta this summer at right back.

With the Chelsea star deciding to stay in west London, Ronald Araujo has mainly been deployed instead, despite being a centre back usually.

The Barcelona boss isn't a fan of Dest's ability to defend, with the American stronger as an attacking full back, and wants to bring in more defensive balance into his team full of talent going forward.

That's why Wan-Bissaka could be the perfect player for him, and a player who Ten Hag doesn't see fitting into his own plans of having his full backs join the attack.

The former Crystal Palace player lost his place in the starting line up to Diogo Dalot last season, when Ralf Rangnick was in charge, and hasn't been able to get back in so far this campaign.

Palace are said to also hold interest in bringing the 24-year-old back to south London, but the chance to instantly replace him would surely be favoured by United.

Wan Bissaka playing in pre season but it's clear Ten Hag doesn't rate him. Image: Alamy

Like with most of Ten Hag's transfer targets, Dest have previously played at Ajax, and worked under the Dutchman in the Eredivisie.

The Spanish giants have previously been linked with Thomas Meunier from Borussia Dortmund as well, being able to swap players would certainly stop them having any issues with registration, as they had with Jules Kounde.

United fans will be hoping that any transfer doesn't become as arduous as their attempts to try and sign Frenkie de Jong this summer, with hope having all but disappeared.

Topics: Premier League, La Liga, Barcelona, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Manchester United, Transfers, Aaron Wan Bissaka

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

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