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gunners goodbye

Arsene Wenger: 'It's a possibility Thomas Vermaelen will go'

Arsenal boss also hinted that the club will bring in more players before transfer window shuts.

ACCORDING TO ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger, club captain Thomas Vermaelen may leave.

The 28 year-old has been steadily linked with a move to Manchester United this summer with Louis van Gaal keen on the Belgian’s ability to play in the centre of defence and on the left flank, if required.

Vermaelen was given some extra time off following his excursions with his country at the World Cup but is currently nursing a hamstring injury he picked up in Brazil.

Wenger didn’t say much about Vermaelen but did confirm that the former Ajax player could be on his way.

“Vermaelen is injured. It is a possibility that he goes.”

Adding fuel to the rumours, Wenger added that he expects to carry out more transfer business before the end of August but revealed that ‘players have to go out before they come in”. It seems likely he’ll add another defender to his ranks, despite Calum Chambers (like Vermaelen, he offers flexibility at the back) expensive arrival from Southampton.

Portugal Soccer Porto's Juan Quintero is not an Arsenal target, says Arsene Wenger. Paulo Duarte / AP/Press Association Images Paulo Duarte / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images

Wenger has ruled out a move for Porto’s Juan Quintero and has expressed satisfaction with his summer transfer activity so far which has seen the arrivals of Alexis Sanchez, David Ospina, Mathieu Debuchy and Chambers.

I’m very happy with the business. I did what I wanted and still open to do more. The window closes on August 31 but we’re a bit ahead of what we normally do because the availability on the market was earlier than before. The bigger clubs have done their deals earlier. When one starts the others follow. But not a lot has happened since the World Cup. It will get busy again the last two weeks in August.”

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