Arsenal Transfer News: Barca Target Gunners Ace

With the summer transfer window in full swing, Football Talk will be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest transfer news throughout the summer. Today, Barcelona are linked with Thomas Vermaelen.

Barcelona have stepped up their attempts to sign Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen, according to the Daily Mail.

The report claims that new Barca boss Tivo Vilanova has identified the Belgian stopper after missing out on AC Milan’s Thiago Silva, who has signed a new contract with the Italians.

Vilanova has now told sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta to push through with their attempts to land Vermaelen as he looks to strengthen his back line ahead of next season.

The Mail believe that the Spanish giants have also short-listed Athletic Bilbao’s Javi Martinez and Bayern Munich’s Holger Badstuber as potential alternatives.

FT Verdict

The Mail ran a very similar story to this a couple of weeks ago and very little seems to have changed, other than the fact Vilanova his given his backing to a move for Vermaelen.

Read more Arsenal transfer news

Barcelona can want Vermaelen all they want, but he recently signed a new long-term contract and said he wants to end his career with the club. He’s going nowhere this summer. End of story.

Do you think Vermaelen will still be at Arsenal next season? Get involved in the comments section.