Manchester United are reportedly planning a swoop for Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen in the summer.
The current Premier League champions will lose their own skipper Nemanja Vidic to Inter Milan at the end of the campaign, and are looking for a capable and experienced replacement.
Vermaelen would fit the bill despite falling out of favour at Arsenal, where Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker are the first choice defensive duo, with the 28-year-old set to follow his former team-mate Robin van Persie up to Manchester.
The Belgian centre-half performed admirably when he first joined Arsene Wenger’s side, and was made captain when Cesc Fabregas moved to Barcelona.
However, a succession of injuries and loss of form has left him benched for much of the season.
A price tag of £12million has been mentioned.
