West Brom eyeing up Barcelona’s former Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen this summer
Baggies boss Tony Pulis lining-up audacious swoop for injury-prone defender, while Crystal Palace are also interested
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WEST BROM are eyeing up an audacious swoop for Barcelona's former Arsenal centre-back Thomas Vermaelen this summer.
Baggies boss Tony Pulis is set to launch a bid for the injury-prone defender, while Crystal Palace are also interested in the Belgian's signature, according to reports.
Vermaelen, 31, still has two years to run on his contract at the Nou Camp after enduring three injury-plagued seasons since leaving the Emirates in 2014.
Despite the interest from West Brom, reports in Spain claim that new boss Ernesto Valverde will give Vermaelen a chance to win his place back in the squad.
Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti are the starting pair, and Javier Mascherano the first reserve, but after Jeremy Mathieu left, options are limited.
Brazilian Marlon Santos, 21, is the only other centre-back in the squad.
Spanish newspaper AS report Valverde could use Vermaelen in a reserve role - after handing him game time in pre-season.
The Belgium international spent last season on loan at Roma in a bid to get his career back on track, but again struggled for fitness.
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The one-time Ajax defender made only nine appearances in Serie A in 2016-17 as he failed to make his mark in Italy.
During his three seasons on the books of Barcelona, Vermaelen has only made 11 La Liga appearances, including seven starts, scoring once.
Prior to that, he turned out an impressive 110 times in the Premier League for Arsenal, even earning the role of club captain under Arsene Wenger, replacing Robin van Persie.
Vermaelen started his career at Dutch giants Ajax after working his way through the youth ranks.
He went on to make 97 Eredivisie appearances before Arsenal snatched him up in 2009.
Vermaelen also has 58 caps for Belgium and would represent solid leadership presence at either West Brom or Crystal Palace.
So far this summer, the Baggies have been linked with a move for Middlesbrough man Ben Gibson, Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs, Manchester United's Chris Smalling and Tottenham flop Moussa Sissoko.
