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Vermaelen: I don't know if I'll stay at Arsenal

ESPN staff
July 8, 2014
Thomas Vermaelen could be joining Belgium team-mate Adnan Januzaj at Manchester United © Getty Images
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Thomas Vermaelen has admitted he doesn't know if he will be at Arsenal next season with Louis van Gaal still interested in bringing him to Manchester United.

Arsenal captain Vermaelen, 28, plans to hold talks with his club as he continues to stall over whether to extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium.

"I really do not know where I will play, Arsenal or elsewhere next season. All my attention went to the World Cup. I will see when I talk with Arsenal," Vermaelen is quoted as saying in the Evening Standard.

Vermaelen has one year left on his current deal and Arsenal risk losing him on a free transfer next summer if no new contract is agreed.

It could make Arsenal more receptive to offers and United, who lost veteran centre-backs Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic this summer, are expected to bolster their defence further after recruiting left-back Luke Shaw for a fee of £27 million which could rise to £31m.

Vermaelen lost his place in the heart of Arsenal's defence last season, making only seven Premier League starts with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny preferred.

A £10m signing from Ajax in 2009, Vermaelen was in the Belgium squad that reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup but limped off after 30 minutes of his only appearance in the 1-0 win against Russia.

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