Belgium’s current deal at the Emirates runs out in June 2015.
Chelsea are preparing a shock move for out-of-favour Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen at the end of this season, according to reports in the Daily Express.
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The experienced Belgium international has once again endured a frustrating campaign with the north London club, with Vermaelen largely finding himself being surplus to requirements by the Gunners.
In fact, Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger has mainly preferred to go with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny as his first-choice central-defensive partnership at the back at the Emirates in this campaign, with Vermaelen therefore spending more time warming the substitutes’ bench than actually on the field of play.
And so with the centre back’s current deal in north London now with less than 18 months left to run on it, speculation has been rife in recent weeks about the player’s future at the club, with reports now suggesting that Blues boss Jose Mourinho is keen to lure Vermaelen across the capital when the summer transfer window reopens for business at the start of July as cover for his first-choice left-back Cesar Azpilicueta, as well as in the centre of his back four too.