United preparing to increase offer for Thomas Vermaelen
The Daily Star are reporting that Manchester United are set to return to Arsenal in an attempt to persuade them into the sale of long-term target Thomas Vermaelen, who is valued at around £10m.
The Gunners rejected United’s opening offer of £6m but the Old Trafford club are con?dent their planned new bid will succeed, with Louis van Gaal desperate to recruit the Belgian international.
Van Gaal is in the market for a centre-back but Vermaelen would also provide cover at left-back for Luke Shaw, 19, with Patrice Evra, 33, expected to join Juventus. And as Vermaelen, 28, has only a year remaining on his contract and is no longer an automatic ?rst choice at The Emirates, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is expected to sanction the deal.