Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen is “attracting interest” from West Ham United and Liverpool, according to Belgian newspaper Sudpresse.
The centre back is expected to depart the Camp Nou this summer after failing to make an impression at the Catalan club. Vermaelen was bought for £15million from Arsenal in 2014 but he spent most of his first season on the treatment table.
Last season he was fit for the most of the campaign but only managed ten appearances in the league under Luis Enrique as Barca won the La Liga. With the Spanish manager favouring the centre back pairing of Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano, it is unlikely that the Catalan club will offer more first team opportunities and the 30 year old is now expected to leave this summer.
Sudpresse say that neither the Hammers or the Reds have made a formal bid for Vermaelen but they believe a return to the Premier League is “very possible.” With Mamadou Sakho’s doping ban dropped, it is not likely the Reds will go in for another centre half this summer although with Martin Skrtel expected to leave for Turkey soon, Jurgen Klopp may want a more experienced fourth centre back than Joe Gomez.
