End of Arsenal career in sight as Barcelona set to bid €12m for player

So is this the end of Thomas Vermaelen’s career at Arsenal? According to reports in Sky Sports Barcelon are about to make a bid in the range of €12m for the centre back. The Belgium has already entered the final year of his contract at the Emirates and isn’t assured of a starting eleven spot thanks to the partnership of Laurent Kocielny and Per Mertesacker at the heart of the defense.

Barcelona’s needs for a centre back is well documented after their recent summer spending spree, having already signed Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Jeremy Mathieu. New manager Luis Enrique believes his side needs to ably replace Carles Puyol, the Spanish legend who retired earlier this summer and the Blaugrana are hopeful of beating United to Vermaelen's signature.

Earlier Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had hinted that Vermaelen could leave the club, “I am very happy because I did what I wanted and I am still hoping to do more. It is just 1st of August and the transfer window closes on the 31st. It is a long time. We are a bit ahead of what we usually do because the availability on the market was bigger than before."

Vermaelen started just seven Premier League games last season and it seems the player is keen to move on to boost his reputation of a flourishing centre back who rub shoulder with best of opposition in the highest echelons of European football. Barcelona would provide Vermaelen his much wanted game time on the pitch. The Catalan club were previously interested in Liverpool’s Daniel Agger but with roumours with possible deal for the Dane not picking up pace in the past few weeks, the Blaugarana might have decided to go ahead and sign Vermaelen instead. 

It will be interesting to see United go ahead with a bid for the current Arsenal player as the Red Devils have been dealt with a stumbling block in their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund defender and World Champions Mats Hummels. Vermaelen has Premier League experience and moreover would suit in United’s 3-5-2 system under new manager Louis Van Gaal.