Vermaelen nears Barcelona switch

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has taken a big step closer to a move to Barcelona after the Gunners today accepted a 15 million euro bid for the centre back.The Belgian international has been the subject of intense interest over the course of the summer, with Man Utd also understood to have made an offer for the talented defender.

With Barcelona seemingly short of defenders after the departure of of Carles Puyol, the Catalan giants are hoping to wrap up a deal for Vermaelen quickly. Vermaelen has struggled for first team action in the past 18 months, partly due to the impressive form of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker.