The Barcelona ace is wanted by West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace, but Watford are in with a shout of signing him too, according to the bookies.
Popular bookmakers SkyBET have installed the Hornets as surprise third favourites in the race to sign Barca defender Thomas Vermaelen.
The 31-year-old joined the La Liga giants from Arsenal back in the summer of 2014, for a fee believed to be in the region of £15 million, but has failed to establish himself as a first-team regular at the Camp Nou.
FC Barcelona’s Thomas Vermaelen
He spent last season on loan in Italy with Roma, and returned to Barcelona this summer, with his future in Catalonia uncertain to say the least.
A return to England could be on the cards for the Belgian, with SkyBET listing West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace at 7/4 an 7/2 respectively to sign him.
Perhaps somewhat surprising though, given the lack of links, Watford have been cut into 5/1 to win the race for the former Gunners star’s signature by the bookies.
And if Marco Silva manages to bring the Belgium international to Vicarage Road, it could be a huge statement of intent from the Hertfordshire outfit, ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Watford will obviously not have things all their own way, however, with so many Premier League clubs thought to be interested in signing the Barca centre-back.
Thomas Vermaelen of Belgium in action
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