Barcelona turn down Vermaelen loan bid

Barcelona have knocked back a loan offer from AS Roma for defender Thomas Vermaelen, according to an Italian source.

The Belgian international joined the Catalans from Arsenal in 2014, but has since then made a solitary league appearance due to a succession of injuries.

Corriere dello Sport claims that Roma had made an enquiry over the availability of Vermaelen on loan during the Joan Gamper Trophy last week.

The report adds that Barca had swiftly rejected the approach.