Cape Town - Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has refused a new deal at the Gunners increasing speculation that a move to Manchester United is on the cards.
Vermaelen was offered a one-year extension to his £60,000-a-week contract at the Emirates, but has refused the offer. Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal wants to bring the Belgium international to Old Trafford, but had a £7million bid rejected earlier in the summer after Arsenal refused to sell on the cheap.
The London club have set a price of £10million for the 28-year-old and boss Arsene Wenger has admitted Vermaelen could be on his way out, with Barcelona and Napoli also interested in the centre-back
"At the moment, he is here," Wenger told the UK Express.
"It could happen. Yes, it's a possibility that he goes and if he goes we have to replace him because he is an important player in our squad.
"I expect him to stay but of course he did not play enough games last year. For me he is a very important player but I couldn’t give him the games that he wanted last year so I will see."
Vermaelen was offered a one-year extension to his £60,000-a-week contract at the Emirates, but has refused the offer. Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal wants to bring the Belgium international to Old Trafford, but had a £7million bid rejected earlier in the summer after Arsenal refused to sell on the cheap.
The London club have set a price of £10million for the 28-year-old and boss Arsene Wenger has admitted Vermaelen could be on his way out, with Barcelona and Napoli also interested in the centre-back
"At the moment, he is here," Wenger told the UK Express.
"It could happen. Yes, it's a possibility that he goes and if he goes we have to replace him because he is an important player in our squad.
"I expect him to stay but of course he did not play enough games last year. For me he is a very important player but I couldn’t give him the games that he wanted last year so I will see."