Manchester United agree stunning deal to sign Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen

Posted Tuesday, June 17, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

ARSENAL skipper Thomas Vermaelen has agreed a deal in principle to join Manchester United after the World Cup concludes.

ON THE MOVE: Thomas Vermaelen is expected to join Manchester United in the next few days

A price for the 28-year-old defender has yet to be agreed, but with just one-year remaining on his current Gunners deal the fee is expected to be no more than £10m.

Vermaelen earns £70k-per-week at the North London side, however reports suggest that he will be offered a bumper £100k-per-week deal to lure him to Old Trafford.

Manchester United agree stunning deal to sign Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen
WANTED: Louis Van Gaal will offer Vermaelen £100k per-week contract to move to Old Trafford

United boss Louis Van Gaal is a keen admirer of the Belgian, and will be delighted to boost his ailing defence with a proven international, who possesses an abundance of Premier League experience.

Vermaelen joined Arsenal from Ajax in the summer of 2009, and has made 110 appearances for Arsene Wenger's side.

The defender has been plagued by a series achilles and back injuries, leading Wenger to opt for the consistency of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker.

Grumblings are already emanating from North London after the veteran manager's decision to pass on Cesc Fabregas, and the loss of Bacary Sagna to Manchester City for free.