Arsenal skipper Thomas Vermaelen is Arsenal’s club captain but he lost his place in the first XI.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hinted yesterday that Premier League rivals Manchester United are one of several clubs pursuing the signature of Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen.
Vermaelen, 28, is Arsenal’s club captain, but he lost his place in the first XI last season and has been linked with clubs including United and Barcelona.
Wenger confirmed at a press conference that Arsenal had received bids for the left-footed centre-back and when asked which clubs had made them, he replied: “I can’t tell you that, but you will know very soon.”
Pressed as to whether United were one of the clubs to have expressed an interest, he said: “I think they could be in the group.”
While Wenger would not comment on press reports that Arsenal are asking for a fee of up to £15 million ($25.3 million, 18.9 million euros) for Vermaelen, he conceded that he was considering letting him leave.
“It could happen,” said the Frenchman, whose side face Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.
“I’ve said since the start of pre-season that it could happen that Thomas leaves us because he needs to play now.
“He had an outstanding attitude and behaviour, but he’s in a position where it’s difficult to stand in his way if he finds an interesting opportunity.”
Wenger confirmed that there were foreign teams among the clubs to have made enquiries about Vermaelen.
When he was asked if he would prefer to sell him to an overseas club, he replied: “Ideally, yes.”
Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move for Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira, but Wenger said that his squad was already sufficiently well-stocked in central midfield. “I don’t know who has put him on the market. Is it his agent, or somebody else? I don’t know. Is it the press?” said Wenger of Khedira, who tasted World Cup glory with Germany in Brazil.
“But we were never close to signing him. Jack Wilshere has come back fit and in midfield we have quite a few offensive midfielders or box-to-box players.”
Wenger was also evasive when invited to discuss reports that he has expressed an interest in signing Liverpool centre-back Daniel Agger.
“I cannot give you any names specifically on who will join us at the moment,” he said. “We are not close to signing anybody and it would be the wrong information.”
Wenger has brought four new players to the club during the close season in Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers and David Ospina.
He said that he was open to making further signings, but emphasised that he already has a large group of players to work with. “We have still three and a half weeks before the transfer market is closed. I am open to it,” he said.
“But it has to be a player who can strengthen our squad. We have already bought four players. We have not lost players until now. We have a big squad at the moment.”
Walcott closing on return
Arsenal winger Theo Walcott could make his return from a serious knee injury by the end of the month, manager Arsene Wenger revealed yesterday.
Walcott, 25, has not played since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup third round in January.
He subsequently had to undergo surgery, forcing him to miss both Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph over Hull City and England’s World Cup campaign, but Wenger says that he is now close to a return.
“Theo Walcott is planned to come back into my group on August 31. The beginning of September at the latest,” the Frenchman told a press conference at the Emirates Stadium.
“He’s doing well, but he’s not completely ready.” Asked when Walcott will be available to play, Wenger replied: “I would say end of August.”