After much speculation about Thomas Vermaelen’s future, Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Manchester United is amongst several clubs that have submitted bids for the Belgian. The Frenchman said as much after the member’s day open training session at the Emirates.
When asked whether Manchester United were part of the clubs that have placed a bid for the Arsenal Captain, Le Prof said: “I think they could be in the group.”
Thomas Vermaelen’s participated in the member’s day open training at the Emirates earlier today. But he quickly went down the tunnel because of his injury issues.
With his departure now almost eminent, he would join the group of past Arsenal Captains that have left the club since 2005, a select group that includes Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie.
All summer he has been the subject of interest from Old Trafford as Manchester United look to replace the departed Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, however, Barcelona who are also interested and are believed to be amongst the clubs that have submitted bid for the Belgian are looking to add to their defensive options following the capture of Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia as they intend to bid as high as £16 million for Thomas Vermaelen.
Although there are indications that the Belgian is not favourable disposed to a move to Barcelona because of fears that he could suffer from the same fate of lack of playing time, and as such he is pinning his hope on a move to Old Trafford.
However from an Arsenal perspective it is imperative that the club circumvent the wishes of it captain by not selling him to a club within the Premiership.
A move away from the Premier League to Barcelona would be a better option for all parties.
Although the situation is different, Arsene Wenger could take a clue from Alex Ferguson who refused to allow Gabriel Heinze to join Liverpool in 2009, instead he was moved to Real Madrid which was entirely against the wishes of the Argentine as the former Manchester United manager refused to sell to a rival.
Though Arsene Wenger going by his past antecedents prefers to grant the wishes of his players, the fact that it creates another precedence like the move of another Arsenal captain to Manchester, it is best that Arsenal prevents a situation of selling two club captains to the same club.
Not that it means anything in the grand scheme of things, but it is best the club depart from a precedent that was set with the much touted cliché that Arsenal always sells it captains.
