Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen On Verge Of £15m La Liga Switch After Snubbing Manchester United

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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.

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.

Yet Telegraph journalist Matt Law reveals that it was the defender himself who rejected United after Barca offered a better contract.

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