Man United’s move for Thomas Vermaelen all depend on whether Arsenal can sign Branislav Ivanovic. Vermaelen has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent weeks and there were reports that the Red Devil’s made a concrete bid for the defender last week.
But boss Arsene Wenger is only willing to let the Belgian go if he has a replacement. That replacement, according to reports from Serbia, is Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic. Wenger would be prepared to hand the Blues man a starting spot at right-back and also use him as centre-back cover, if either one of Laurent Koscielny or Per Mertesacker were to be injured.
Arsenal would be able to sort out two defensive problems with the signing of the 30-year old – they are in need of a right-back with Bacary Sagna leaving for Man City, while Vermaelen as previously mentioned could be heading to Man United. Ivanovic would be able to play in both of those positions.
However, even though he isn’t always in the starting eleven at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are unlikely to accept the £7m that the Gunners are willing to offer. Meanwhile, Vermaelen has played down talk of an imminent move to Old Trafford as he told Sky Sports: “I know there has been a lot of talk and a lot of rumours but the only thing I can say is that it’s not true”
By Charlie Gregory
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