Barcelona’s Thomas Vermaelen is all set to take a medical in Rome ahead of his move to the Italian capital for an initial loan fee of €2m with an option to buy for €10m.
Marca believes that Roma have agreed a fee with Barcelona for Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen who had joined the Catalan club two years back from Arsenal. Vermaelen is expected to be in Italy on Sunday afternoon, with his medicals scheduled for the following day.
Surplus to Requirements
With the acquisition of Samuel Umtiti from Lyon, the former Arsenal centre half, who has struggled with injuries, looks to be on his way out. Vermaelen has failed to establish himself in the starting 11 ahead of Pique and Mascherano.
The recent acquisitions of Fazio and Vermaelen are due to Roma losing out two of their key men in defense. Rudiger was forced out with a long term injury last month during the Euros while new signing Mario Rui, who was purchased to replace the outgoing Lucas Digne, has also picked up a long term injury.
Roma will face Porto in the third qualifying round of the Champions League and it looks likely that Vermaelen will partner Manolas in the heart of the defense. However, there are conflicting reports regarding the nature of the deal as Roma would look to sign the centre half on a loan with an option to buy. But Di Marzio has suggested that the loan comes with an obligation to buy.
Having turned 30, this might well be the last big chance for Vermaelen to get his career back on track. Since his Arsenal days, the Belgian has been missing out on game time due to recurring injury problems. Even his first season at Barcelona was completely written off as he was out the entire time following a surgery to resolve a hamstring injury. He will be hoping to stay injury in the relatively less intense Serie A.
