Rumour: Thomas Vermaelen wants to move to Manchester United

Thomas Vermaelen has fallen out of favour at the Emirates

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen reportedly wants a move to Manchester United this summer and has told his team-mates in north London, according to the Express.

The Belgian centre-back has been heavily linked with a switch to Manchester United and the Arsenal having placed a £12 million price-tag for Vermaelen as Arsene Wenger looks to fund a move for another defender as a replacement.

Thomas Vermaelen has gone from being one of the most important players in the squad to a peripheral figure on the sidelines. The Belgian international has found it extremely difficult to dislodge the formidable partnership of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.

Mertesacker and Koscielny played a big part in the Gunners’ season, with Vermaelen used predominately on the bench. Vermaelen has found it difficult to reclaim his place, restricted mostly to cup appearances.

Vermaelen could make the move to Old Trafford after the World Cup and sources close to the player insist he is ready to make the move.

Vermaelen was left out of the starting line-up in Belgium’s opening game against Algeria in the World Cup, with Jan Vertonghen preferred at left-back and Daniel Van Buyten at centre-back alongside Vincent Kompany.