Emirates Stadium captain’s Old Trafford transfer move on hold.
Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen will have to wait before finalising his proposed move to Manchester United this summer, with the Gunners keen to have a replacement in place first, according to the Daily Star.
The 28-year-old has not been first choice for Arsene Wenger’s side for over a year now, with a poor run of form seeing him slip behind Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny in the pecking order at the back.
Still, the Belgian international remains highly regarded around Europe, with Napoli and Inter Milan also among those interested in snapping him up in this transfer window, though recent reports suggested that United were leading the chase for his signature.
New Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal is keen to bring in new signings in defence after losing both Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand at the end of this season, and Vermaelen’s Premier League experience looks to have made him one of his priority targets.
However, Arsenal want to sign cover for Mertesacker and Koscielny if Vermaelen does leave, and will not allow this move to go through until they have managed to find someone to come in, with Toulouse’s Serge Aurier believed to be on Wenger’s radar.