Our winter transfer window closed at the end of January, but Russia’s one just opened and won’t shut until midnight on the 27th of February.
Why is this important to us? Well according to the Daily Mail, Zenit St. Petersburg are preparing to launch a bid for Thomas Vemraelen.
Arsene Wenger will want to keep as many players at the club as possible with a busy end of the season expected and mounting injuries. However, the 28-year-old centre-back may consider a temporary move away from the Emirates with the World Cup only a few months away.
Although Vermaelen should be considered for selection by Belgium boss Marc Wilmots but the out-of-favour Arsenal captain will want to be match sharp and get games under his belt before the tournament gets underway in the summer.
Vermaelen may be settled at Arsenal, but the Belgian has dropped behind Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny in the pecking order and has only managed to make 11 appearances (six as a starter) in all competitions so far this season which is not good enough.
Napoli have been credited with interest in Vermaelen and although Wenger understands the Belgian wants to play more, the Frenchman still believes he has a role to play at the club.
It’s thought Zenit have the cash to burn but it seems highly unlikely Wenger will allow Vermaelen to leave, even if he wants to go.
