Arsenal Renew Interest In Williams With Vermaelen Facing 3 Months Out

With the summer transfer window now open, there is plenty of gossip doing the rounds in the newspapers so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest transfer rumours. Today, Arsenal are back in for Ashley Williams.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has renewed his interest in Swansea’s Ashley Williams with fears growing that Thomas Vermaelen could be ruled out for 3 months, according to the Daily Mail.

The Gunners captain – who lost his place in Wenger’s starting eleven towards the end of last season – picked up a back problem while away on international duty with Belgium last month and he wont be on the plane that leaves for the clubs pre-season tour of East Asia today as he will remain in London to continue his rehabilitation.

While no fixed time frame has been put on the 27-year-old’s recovery, the Mail claim the next week is going to prove critical in diagnosing the full extent of the problem and while he’s almost certain to miss the start of the season, fears are growing that he could be ruled out for up to 3 months.

If the worst should happen, it would leave Wenger with just two fit centre-backs in Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker. Johan Djourou has left the club on loan while Sebastien Squillaci has been released after his contract expired, so we’re severely lacking in depth at the back.

The newspaper suggests that this has lead to renewed interest in Swansea captain Ashley Williams. We were heavily linked with a move for the Welshman earlier in the summer but the boss apparently baulked at his £10m asking price but it seems we’re now going to make a fresh enquiry following Vermaelen’s injury.

I still feel £10m is a lot of money to pay for a player who’ll soon turn 29 and will more than likely be nothing more than a back-up option. If we could land Williams for nearer £6m then it would be worth a punt but any more and I personally feel we should look at other options.

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