Arsenal out of favour Captian, Thomas Vermaelen featured only 14 times during the last league campaign for his team. In recent times, Wenger had favoured the central defensive pair of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny. According to The DailyStar, Manchester United may be leading the race to sign the Belgian defender who is currently in Brazil with the Belgian team.
Manchester United was dealt a big blow when two of its defence generals left the club at the end of last season. Namanja Vidic moved to Inter Milan and Rio Ferdinand saw his contract run out with the club refusing to engage him in new contract talks or extension. Both men have marshaled United’s defence over the years, helping the team win competitions. Their departure has left the team with a largely inexperienced and ineffective trio comprising Johnny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones. Lately, Evans and Jones have been in and out of injury, the later may indeed still be nursing a shoulder injury even though he is with the England team in Brazil. Besides this failing, they are still thought to be players of the future. It is therefore inevitable for United to seek to bring in some reinforcement as Van Gaal rebuilds the team.
Vermaelen has been identified as a possible replacement for Vidic. The 28-year old Belgian has only a year left in his contract and may leave on a free transfer next year. It is understood that Arsenal are unlikely to open contract talks with him and may in fact be willing to let him go this year so as to be able to make some money from his sale. This time, Wenger, the Arsenal manager, may actually be favourably disposed to selling his player to United unlike what happen with Van Persie two years ago when his hands were forced.
Though side-lined in Arsenal, Vermaelen is no less a fantastic defender and may still add some value to the United defence. Though 28, United could still get another 5 years of active football from him. He has excellent sense of anticipation and a quick response rate. Last season, with just 14 appearances, he had one assist indicating his tendency to join the attack when he can get cover at the back.
United may still have to starve off threat from Juventus and Fiorentina who have also shown interest in taking the player to Italy.
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