Former Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen could return to the Premier League with London neighbours Crystal Palace.
It is fair to say injuries have not been kind to Thomas Vermaelen. Since following in the footsteps of Cesc Fabregas, Alex Hleb and Alex Song by swapping Arsenal for Barcelona in the summer of 2014, the Belgian centre-back has missed 65 games through injury, including 17 during a frustrating loan spell at Roma last season.
Therefore, it is easy to forget that the 31-year-old was once one of the continent’s most complete centre-backs, an excellent reader of the game blessed with quality on the ball and a lethal finish at the opposite end of the park.
Vermaelen only started once in his debut season at Barcelona
And it is no surprise that new Crystal Palace boss Frank De Boer, himself a classy, modern centre-half in his playing days, is a firm admirer of Vermaelen’s qualities. Though reports in the Daily Record that the Eagles could offer him an escape route out of the Camp Nou will surely elicit a mixed response among supporters.
The report claims that, although Vermaelen still has two years remaining on his contract at Barcelona, his representatives have indicated that he would be keen to return to the Premier League and London in particular.
De Boer appears to have made reinforcing the defence one of his first tasks at Selhurst Park. The Liverpool Echo reports that Palace remain frontrunners to land Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho after his excellent performances during a loan spell last season helped keep them in the Premier League.
Yet the Reds’ £30 million asking price means Palace have reservations.
Crystal Palace would love to have Mamadou Sakho back
Therefore, Vermaelen would be a much cheaper option. But having started just 18 league games in four seasons, he would also be a huge risk.
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