Thomas Vermaelen

rogerthornhill · **Joined:** Sat Feb 16, 2008 9:23 pm **Posts:** 3405

For whatever it's worth this is from Goal.com -

Ajax Defender Thomas Vermaelen Claims No Knowledge Of Arsenal Bid

The Belgium international defender says his agent deals with any negotiations regarding a potential transfer...
5 Jun 2009 12:08:02

Thomas Vermaelen claims he has no idea whether a transfer from Dutch giants Ajax to Premier League side Arsenal is close to fruition.

The 23-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Gunners recently, and it has been reported that a deal in the region of €11.4 million (£10m) is close to being agreed.

Fulham's Norway international defender Brede Hangeland and Juventus' Italy international lynchpin Giorgio Chiellini were mentioned as possible recruits for the north London outfit, but it seems neither will be leaving their current employers this summer.

Therefore, Vermaelen appears to have emerged as Arsenal's number one defensive target.

While the 21-time capped Belgium international has not denied that a switch could be on the cards, he is not giving anything away, claiming that his representative handles any such issues.

"Officially I still know nothing," Vermaelen told De Standaard.

"I leave everything to my agent. Personally I have no voice."

http://goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zon ... owledge-of

TheSKAGooner · **Posted:** Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:07 am

From Belgian media...

Quote:

Gisteren brachten we al het nieuws dat Arsenal liefst 11,5 miljoen veil had voor Thomas Vermaelen en nu is de transfer met de Rode Duivel ook op een haar na rond. De 23-jarige Stabroekenaar - een jeugdproduct van Germinal Beerschot - speelt de komende vier seizoenen zo goed als zeker in het Emirates Stadium bij de Engelse topclub. Naast Marouane Fellaini (Everton) en Vincent Kompany (Manchester City) wordt Vermaelen zo de derde Rode Duivel in de sterkste competitie van Europa. Het wordt één van de strafste transfers in de geschiedenis van het Belgische voetbal. The Gunners leggen met Ajax de laatste hand aan een transferbedrag van 13 miljoen euro, waarmee Vermaelen na Fellaini (20 miljoen) de tweede duurste Belgische transfer ooit wordt.

Vermaelen werd opgeleid bij Germinal Ekeren en later bij de Antwerpse fusieclub Germinal Beerschot. Die werkte samen met Ajax en in 2004 vertrok hij richting Amsterdam ArenA. Hij werd één seizoen uitgeleend aan RKC, maar groeide de voorbije jaren uit tot een vaste waarde bij Ajax en bij de Rode Duivels. Vermaelen was ook van de partij op de Spelen in Peking. (hln/kh)

http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/1301/Premier-League/article/detail/878533/2009/06/06/Thomas-Vermaelen-naar-Arsenal.dhtml

Here's a relatively close translation...

Yesterday we brought all the news that Arsenal prefer to 11.5 million auction was for Thomas Vermaelen and now the transfer to the Red Devil on after a round.

The 23-year-old to Stabroek – a youth product of Germinal Beerschot – play the next four years almost certainly in the Emirates Stadium at the English club.

Besides Marouane Fellaini (Everton) and Vincent Kompany (Manchester City) is Vermaelen as the third Red Devil in the strongest league in Europe.

It is one of the strafste transfers in the history of Belgian football.

The Gunners with Ajax finalizing a transfer amount of 13 million euros, after which Vermaelen Fellaini (20 million) the second most expensive transfer ever is Belgian.

Vermaelen was trained in Germinal Ekeren and later at the Antwerp club Germinal Beerschot merger. They worked with Ajax and in 2004 he left Amsterdam ArenA.

He was a season on loan to RKC, but grew over the years to a fixed value for Ajax and the Red Devils. Vermaelen was also the party at the Olympics in Beijing.

gzagee · **Posted:** Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:09 am

I just hope peeps don't misinterpret me here. I'm not saying he's sh*te, nor am I saying we shouldn't sign him.
Just that to me he should be the fries to the hamburger.

Alex · **Posted:** Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:55 pm

Apparently he is in London for contract talks and he rejected the first contract offer we gave him.

jayantmoudgil · **Posted:** Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:58 pm

gzagee wrote:

he should be the fries to the hamburger.

That's a better way to put it.

SE13 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:11 am

There is some breaking news on this one.

No idea what yet.......

SE13 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:28 am

Quote:

Arsenal have secured a €13 million (£11.4 million) deal for Ajax captain Thomas Vermaelen, according to reports in his native Belgium.

Arsene Wenger has been chasing the 23-year-old as he looks to strengthen his defensive options and has apparently now agreed a transfer fee with Ajax.

Het Laatste Nieuws reports that the two clubs reached an agreement on Saturday and that Vermaelen is now close to signing a four-year contract with The Gunners.

If the deal is confirmed then the defender will become the second most expensive Belgian player of all time, with Everton’s €20 million deal for Marouane Fellaini still the benchmark.

Wenger admitted 12 months ago that he was looking for a new defender but the only new arrival last August was Manchester United veteran Mikael Silvestre.

And with the future of both William Gallas and Kolo Toure the subject of speculation in recent months, the imminent arrival of Vermaelen will go a long way to placating fans who have been calling for more investment in the side.

the real gooner · **Joined:** Sat Aug 30, 2008 11:21 pm **Posts:** 1089

Good squad addition but as has been said bring on the 1/2 pounder

rogerthornhill · **Joined:** Sat Feb 16, 2008 9:23 pm **Posts:** 3405

It certainly seems that the deal is done, let's hope that he proves to be a good signing. £11.4 million seems a bit much for what we are getting but who knows?

rogerthornhill · **Joined:** Sat Feb 16, 2008 9:23 pm **Posts:** 3405

It must be true as the BBC have thrown their weight behind the Setanta report.

SE13 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:48 am

rogerthornhill wrote:

It must be true as the BBC have thrown their weight behind the Setanta report.

I've been all over the place trying to find more on it, but so far only Setanta and Auntie Beeb are running with it......

Andreys_Does_Simples · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 11:17 am

Isn't Wenger in China still? Just don't see that we'd be having players over for talks if our manager all the way over there.

sithlordwebb72 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 11:21 am

i hate this time of year. all these reports flying around, just waiting to be confirmed.
but then i also love it cos its quite exciting.

really dont know much about this guy tbh. sounds like it could be a decent buy if true. the only thing is, if we do get him who's gonna be left out? gallas?

the real gooner · **Joined:** Sat Aug 30, 2008 11:21 pm **Posts:** 1089

If he comes then Bog Phil won't be coming back imo and AC will prob pay at least as much as this guy cost.............shame I'm a Big Phil fan and thought given time he could have been the big CB we all fancy getting...

bishop05 · **Joined:** Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:54 am **Posts:** 488

bbc reports say we have secured an 11.4 mill pound deal for him

Thomas Vermaelen

Who is online