Manchester United are prepared to stump up £15million to beat Barcelona to the signature of Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen.
Manager Louis van Gaal is anxious for more signings following the club’s return from their pre-season tour in America and wants to close deals for Vermaelen and Ajax wing-back Daley Blind before his Premier League bow against Swansea City on August 16.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward accepts he will have to pay a premium price for Vermaelen however because Arsenal would prefer to see him go to La Liga than play for one of their Premier League rivals.
Barcelona have already made a £10million offer for the 28-year-old Belgian World Cup star but United have informed the London club they will top it.
Vermaelen was officially Arsenal's club captain last season but played only seven Premier League games due to the form of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker. He and the versatile Blind can also provide cover for left-back Luke Shaw.
Van Gaal wants transfer business both in and out the club to gather pace in the next fortnight.
The Dutchman pointed out at his unveiling that he had approved rather than initiated United’s first two summer signings Ander Herrera and Shaw.
United made their third capture, teenage Serbian goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic, but van Gaal wants to improve the balance of the squad, needing more defenders to play his preferred 3-4-3 formation following the departures of Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra.
A move for Borussia Dortmund’s highly-rated midfielder Marco Reus is likely to have to wait until next year when his £20million buy-out clause kicks in.
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