Arsenal Balls: Manchester United Pay £7m Over Asking Price For Thomas Vermaelen
ARSENAL Balls: The Sun leads with an “exclusive” on “Arsenal misfit” Thomas Vermaelen.
DAVID MOYES has targeted Arsenal misfit Thomas Vermaelen to replace Manchester United hero Nemanja Vidic. The Belgian central defender is no longer a regular at the Emirates, but the Gunners would still demand a £12million fee from one of their rivals.
He is a close pal of Robin van Persie and the pair share the same agent in Kees Vos.
Why Arsenal would sell another captain to a rival side – and why the Belgian would want to play for an average United team from which Van Persie might well depart in the summer – is a mute point for the Sun’s Charlie Wyett. As is the news that his exclusive is that the player said back in 2012:
“I have no intention of leaving this club. I feel at home in London and I feel that I have become a real Gunner. Arsenal is my club. In my eyes, they belong to the absolute elite of European top clubs. When I was young, I dreamed of playing for Ajax and Arsenal. Both dreams have come true.”
In November 2013, he said:
“I keep reading stories that I want to leave. But that’s not the case.”
Although in February, the Express had other news, and the player had a different agent:
Vermaelen’s agent Alex Kroes told French paper Le 10 Sport: “Thomas has told Wenger that he wants to leave Arsenal this summer.”
A quick check tells us that the player is represented by Sports Entertainment Group, created by Alex Kroes and Kees Vos.
Anyhow, one month earlier, the Express had told its readers:
Wenger wants to keep Vermaelen at the Emirates and will start talks over a new contract with his current deal set to expire at the end of next season.
To put the tin lid on the Sun’s exclusive, the site Sports Mole reported last month:
Manchester United are reportedly lining up a bid for Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen.
And let us not forget Wyett’s previous exclusive on the player:
Such are the facts…
Posted: 9th, March 2014 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
