Barcelona close in on the defender.
FC Barcelona are on the verge of completing a £15m deal to sign Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen after the defender rejected a move to Manchester United.
.@Arsenal have agreed a fee of around £15m with @FCBarcelona for the sale of captain Thomas Vermaelen. more soon pic.twitter.com/37aNjQdGbx
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 8, 2014
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger admitted on Thursday that Vermaelen could well be sold, but is not keen to allow the 28-year-old to join a Premier League rival.
“I’ve said since the start of pre-season that Thomas could leave us because he needs to play now,” the 64-year-old was quoted by the club’s website.
“Ideally yes [I would rather sell Vermaelen abroad]. It is an option. I don’t want to tell you [which clubs are interested] but we have offers from abroad as well.”
United were thought to be extremely keen on landing the Belgium international themselves, but there are varying reports on why the deal has fallen through for them.
Sky Sports claims that the Red Devils rejected a swap deal with the North Londoners, with Chris Smalling the player at Old Trafford believed to be involved.
Sky Sources: Man Utd end interest in Arsenal Thomas Vermaelen after refusing to consider swap deal #SSN
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 8, 2014
Yet Telegraph journalist Matt Law reveals that it was the defender himself who rejected United after Barca offered a better contract.
My colleague @Matt_Law_DT also hearing that length of contract is potentially significant. Barca offering 5yrs. Utd 3+1
— Jeremy Wilson (@JWTelegraph) August 8, 2014
SEE MORE: Top 100 players in the world.