LONDON (SportingAlert.com) — Thomas Vermaelen has been linked with a move to Manchester United and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says the club captain could leave the Gunners this summer.
Vermaelen, who was part of the Belgium team at the FIFA World Cup finals this summer, where he picked up an injury, made just 14 appearances in the English Premier League for Arsenal last season.
He was pictured on vacation with former Arsenal captain and current Manchester United striker Robin van Persie.
“Vermaelen is injured,” Wenger said at a news conference on Friday. “It is a possibility that he goes.”
It is understood that Wenger has been working on signing a new center-back and Frenchman said: “If he does (leave), we have to replace (him) because he is an important player in our squad.”
Wenger added that the defender did not play well enough and he cannot “guarantee him” the playing time he’s demanding.
“I expect him to stay but he, of course, did not play enough games last year,” the Arsenal boss said.
“For me, he’s a very important player but I couldn’t guarantee him the games he wanted last year.”
Manchester United new manager Louis van Gaal has openly admitted that he wants to sign defenders this transfer window and Vermaelen is said to be strong on his list.
It is also being reported that Borussia Dortmund and Germany World Cup centre-back Mats Hummels is also another big target of Van Gaal, as the former Dutch national boss looks to bring new faces to Old Trafford.
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