Reports emerged recently that Vermaelen had agreed personal terms with Manchester United but shortly after, the Belgian defender debunked the reports tagging it as a baseless rumour.
The latest report is that Manchester United actually made an offer which Arsenal rejected because it was too small.
According to the reports, the Red Devils offered the Gunners 6million Pounds for the Belgian but the North Londoners are holding out for at least 12 million Pounds.
It is certainly brewing up to be an interesting situation.
Vermaelen has just a year left on his current contract and should he refuse a new deal and Arsenal holding him to the final year of his contract, the Belgian would work away for free next summer and he might just opt for Manchester.
That would mean Arsenal would be loosing their captain to a domestic rival for free. That won’t be a good tale at all. A free agent at 29 would be a very good buy.
To prevent that, Wenger has to make sure he signs a new deal this summer or sell him to a foreign club but if he tows the path of former captain Van Persie who was insistent on joining Manchester United, Wenger should go for a player and money instead of cash only.
One player I would love Arsenal to steal away from Old Trafford is English defender Chris Smalling.
The former Fulham youngster was a target for Wenger before Ferguson stole a match on the Frenchman and signed him. This could be a perfect opportunity to Wenger to get his pound of flesh.
Getting Smalling for Vermaelen would be getting a like for like replacement for the Belgian.
Not only is Smalling a central defender, he is also quite versatile as he can play as a right back and left back.
At just 24, he is a long term solution and with the talent he has shown so far, he can only get better.
Besides their versatility, another thing Vermaelen and Smalling have in common is their susceptibility to injuries.
Both players are injury prone but I believe that Smalling is still easier to manage since he is young and with Arsenal tinkering with their fitness team, his injury might just abate.
It is easier having a 24 year old player as third choice centre back than asking a 29 year old who is also club captain filling that space.
If Arsenal can get Smalling as part of the deal that sees Vermaelen moving to Old Trafford, I won’t bat an eyelid because we would be landing a player with a long term prospect and easing away one with a fading future.
