It won't be as bad as when we signed Fellaini but it will still be a disappointing signing if we're being honest. My worry is that his knees are shot
Thomas Vermaelen
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If that's the case he won't pass the medical.
For the purpose of this post, let's pretend Hargreaves never happened.
It's too premature to suggest that.
I would rather have all three of our current defenders over him, but that's not to say they are currently superior. Jones is currently too error-prone and self-inflicting of injuries. I have no doubt that he will eradicate those flaws, but I wouldn't say he's the better defender at the moment; certainly not by a mile like you're suggesting.
Evans is better, as he's proven over the course of a season, which does top any Premier League season Vermaelen has enjoyed and he'll probably show that under LVG seeing as he likes distributing and ball-playing centre backs. Smalling is my favourite out of the three and the most naturally-gifted defender, just needs to play at centre back consistently
None are at an exceptional level though. Perhaps some of our defenders can reach that and Vermaelen cannot, but there isn't much of a disparity between all four.
Jones is error prone, but Vermaelen is even more so. I'm not a big fan of Evans or Jones and I think both are better. Vermaelen is better on the ball, but defensively he is a fair way behind.
Speaking to a lot of Arsenal fans, this is one player they'd like to get rid of.
I think this will go through provided somebody like Hummels doesn't crop up. Sources are fairly solid and the Mail's Adam Crafton is reaffirming this rumour on an almost daily basis. As it stands, he's clearly sitting on a well-placed source.
Understandable really.
If you're talking price/value wise, yes it won't be as bad. Form/ability wise, it's an even worse signing
So close
I'm talking about how it fits the team, in the sense that I can see Vermaelan coming in and suiting Van Gaal's system and being an asset (providing Vermaelan is fit which isn't a guarantee by any means).
I agree with this, he is not a particularly good player, certainly not better than anything we have already.
Why can't we give Atletico 12 - 15 mil € + Hernandez (if they want him) and take Miranda in exchange?
Standard tabloid drivel. Hopefully.
Would be a strange signing unless they fee is 6m or less and the plan is to bring in another less experienced centre half as well, someone like de vrij perhaps.
He is too injury prone and we already have 3 centre halves who get injured too much so I don't think he would necessarily solve the issues we have at cb.
Would love to see us sign marquinhos, hummels or varane but none are realistic, Miranda and mangala are ridiculously over priced so maybe someone like Loren would be a good buy.
He is too injury prone and we already have 3 centre halves who get injured too much so I don't think he would necessarily solve the issues we have at cb.
Would love to see us sign marquinhos, hummels or varane but none are realistic, Miranda and mangala are ridiculously over priced so maybe someone like Loren would be a good buy.
That would be a fcuking shit deal.
Unlike a lot on here, I'm not totally opposed to this transfer.
First things first, he wouldn't be my number one choice. However, if LVG is looking for a centre back who is good on the ball, he's a good option. Better than Smalling and Jones on the ball and IF he signs and can get to 100% fitness and find a bit of form he could be a useful signing.
First things first, he wouldn't be my number one choice. However, if LVG is looking for a centre back who is good on the ball, he's a good option. Better than Smalling and Jones on the ball and IF he signs and can get to 100% fitness and find a bit of form he could be a useful signing.
If we want a CB who is good with the ball, there are other options there.
Why?
It wouldn't be a terrible signing. There is a good player under all the injuries and whatnot. Wenger doesn't want him to leave and Belgium continue to select him in spite of his lack of regular games. He's good on the ball and can defend - probably better if he could find a run of games.
I'm not saying he'd improve our first 11 or anything, but he's experienced, he wouldn't expect to walk into the team and we badly need a fourth centre-half in the squad.
One year on his contract and a price of £12m on a player who isn't a starter raises an eyebrow, mind.
I'm not saying he'd improve our first 11 or anything, but he's experienced, he wouldn't expect to walk into the team and we badly need a fourth centre-half in the squad.
One year on his contract and a price of £12m on a player who isn't a starter raises an eyebrow, mind.
I guess I'm in the minority but I think this would be a pretty good move. It allows Jones and Smalling game time to develop while providing quality PL proven cover. The fact that he speaks Dutch and English is also a plus.
Well, 15m AND quality player in 26 year old Hernandez for a centre back who is turning 30 this season? It is a shit deal.
Miranda was part of the best defence in La Liga last season, maybe even in Europe. He plays every game for Atletico, they need him and don't need to sell him unless he wants to go and the price is right.
Whereas Hernandez hasn't played much for us for 2 years and on a sidenote doesn't even start for Mexico anymore. If LvG wants to get rid off one striker it will be him, he doesn't like Huntelar much either.
I also don't think he would be a starter at Atletico as all their players need to do more than just fulfil their main role on the pitch in Simeone's system. So if they take him he would probably be their 3rd choice striker or something like that.
I very much doubt we will get more than € 15 mil for Hernandez anyway from any club. 2 years ago we could have received much more, but not now.
A 29/30 years old Miranda wouldn't be ideal, but I'd rather spend 15 mil € + a striker (if we want to get rid anyway) on him than around € 15 mil on Vermaelen.
Agreed.
Please be rubbish...
Do not want!
I reckon this is going to happen. He came up in the Ajax system and LvG probably rates him.
I think so.
It was being reported as pretty much done, a little while back. I assume there are just things to iron out.
Yeah I get that sense as well. Probably just waiting for Belgium to finish their run before announcing it.
I still can't understand this one at all, he's average at best and always injured, we really need an experienced CB who is still at his best, not an injury ravaged guy that can barely get a game for Arsenal.
As fans we always seem to love the big money Hollywood signings, but I'd imagine from someone like LvG's perspective, he may want a player who he knows, is familiar with, or has been tracking for a while, to provide him with a bit of experience and squad depth; both of which Vermaelen would provide.
I'm not even talking about a big, expensive CB though, I honestly don't have a list of CB's I'd like to see us go for or anything like that, but whoever it is I'd like him to be good enough to start at the team he's at and not have an injury record a mile long.
RvP had similar injury concerns and has worked out well. I'm sure that sort of thing would get worked out at the medical phase.
The difference is we bought RvP off the back of a fantastic season where he was the best striker in the league and had been injury free. Vermaelen is the complete opposite and then went to the World Cup and came off injured after 10 minutes or so in his one appearance, we already have 3 pretty injury prone CB's to begin with, adding another one seems silly IMO..
But RvP just had his best injury free season with Arsenal before moving to us. Same cannot be said about Vermaelen. He will be a vital player as we currently have only 3 young CBs who seem like they will break down any moment.
Literally no idea how he's getting a pay rise out of losing his position, if you're not good enough for Arsenal then you definitely aren't good enough for us, even now at our lowest we have to keep that mindset.
Jesus, this will never go away will it? I guess the only positive that might come with this is that my expectations are already so low, there's no way he could fall below them. Only way is up I guess 
If this move happens I hope he's being brought in for cover and it would probably be something like a Ledly King situation where he rarely trains.
The Belgian Lescott.
Literally the only positive I can think of if we do sign him is the Arsenal fans going mental that we've bought someone off them again.
Literally the only positive I can think of if we do sign him is the Arsenal fans going mental that we've bought someone off them again.
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