‘Arsenal are keen to avoid selling Vermaelen to Man United’, claims Olley

London Evening Standard chief football correspondent James Olley has told talkSPORT Arsenal are keen to avoid selling club captain Thomas Vermaelen to rivals Manchester United.

The Belgian defender is craving a move away from the Emirates after being unable to break up the first choice centre-back partnership of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker last season.

Arsene Wenger has already admitted Vermaelen is likely to leave the Gunners and both the Red Devils and Barcelona have been linked with a £10million move for the 28-year-old.

However, Olley believes the Gunners would much rather sell to the La Liga side and he told Danny Kelly on Kick Off: "There is an unwillingness among the club's hierarchy to get into a situation where they sell their captain [to United again].

"Although he's not got the same importance as Van Persie had at the time in 2012 when they sold him to United, they don't really want to be seen to be selling their captain to United for the second time in three years.

"Back then with Van Perise they were in a very difficult position. They still needed the money, he was obviously a huge asset at the time and they felt they got a good price for him at £24m, for a player who had a year left on his deal.

"Vermaelen clearly doesn't have the same talismanic, iconic reputation at the club. He doesn't have the same role but he is in the final year of his contract. However, Arsenal are no longer under [the same] financial constraints and clearly they're in a stronger position to negotiate.

"They would prefer, as they did with Van Persie, to sell overseas. They want to sell to a European club."