Arsenal
Arsenal Trio Also On Barcelona Short-List
According to Spanish source Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona were also interested in Thomas Vermaelen, Jack Wilshere AND Abou Diaby after buying Alex Song this summer
Despite the transfer window being closed, there is always transfer gossip doing the rounds in the papers and we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest news during the coming months. Today, Barca are linked with three more Arsenal players.
Vermaelen - Barca target
Some Arsenal fans were cursing the loss of midfielder Alex Song to Barcelona this summer, but little did they know it could have been a damn-sight worse!
According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Barca were also interested in Thomas Vermaelen, Jack Wilshere AND Abou Diaby.
The Catalan giants were working hard to find potential replacements for the departed Seydou Keita and it seems the Arsenal quartet all made the short-list.
Even though the Mali international was a midfielder Barca initially decided a centre back was required, with Thigo Silva and Javi Martinez their top two targets before they were priced out of moves for the pair.
The former European champions then decided they wanted to find a versatile player who could play in midfield but also fill in at centre-back and thus turned their attention to Song.
The Cameroonian is known for his abilities in midfield but is also comfortable playing at the back, and Barcelona director Andoni Zubizarreta insists Song was the clubs first choice despite their interest in Vermaelen, Wilshere and Diaby.
Many Gooners will feel relieved that it was Song who was the one to leave out of the four. However, realistically Barca were never going to be able to buy Wilshere. For a start he is still injured, but he is also under a long-term contract and seen as the future of the club.
Read more Arsenal transfer news
Vermaelen also signed a new long-term contract some months ago and was made captain after Robin van Persie left, so again his purchase would have been difficult.
Whereas Song was by far the easiest to buy after his reported fall-out with Arsene Wenger in pre-season, plus he had the versatility they were looking for, so the deal worked out well for all parties in the end.
But what are the odds the La Liga giants come back in for Vermaelen, Wilshere , Diaby or any other Gunner in January or next summer?!
Are you glad it was Song who left? Get involved in the comments section.
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