adminLONDON. — Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen is set to seal a £10m move to Barcelona this summer – because The Gunners don’t want to sell the Belgium international to English Premier League rivals Manchester United.
The Spanish giants are keen to strengthen their defensive options ahead of the new La Liga season, and were believed to be stepping up their interest in Vermaelen after seeing a £34m bid for their number one target, Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos, rejected.
Manchester United were also thought to be targeting Vermaelen – who is out of contract next year – with Louis van Gaal looking to reinforce the club’s options in defence.
However, The Mirror have now claimed that Barca have won the race for the 28-year-old’s signature because Arsenal do not want
to help strengthen one of their domestic rivals by agreeing to sell the player to United.
Vermaelen joined Arsenal in the summer of 2009 from Dutch giants Ajax and has scored 13 goals for the Emirates Stadium outfit during that time.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has admitted that he’s losing the battle to keep his club captain who is frustrated at his lack of game time.
Vermaelen (28), who joined Arsenal from Ajax for £9 million five years ago, has lost his place to Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny. — Metro
Online Reporter