Arsenal fans inside the Football Transfer Tavern have torn themselves away from their top four celebrations to worry about the ‘curse of the captain’ striking once again.
Sources at talkSPORT have revealed that Italian club Napoli are reportedly weighing up a move for club captain Thomas Vermaelen.
The Belgian found himself dropped from the Arsenal first team towards the end of the season following a dip in form, and made just one start in the final ten league games.
This has bought the 27-year-olds future into question, and as much as Wenger has insisted the centre back is staying put, Napoli are ready to test the water with a cut price bid.
Arsenal have seen themselves forced to sell their previous two club captains in consecutive transfer windows, with Robin van Persie making the switch to Old Trafford last summer, and Cesc Fabregas moving to Barcelona the year before.
Barcelona have been long-term admirers of Vermaelen, although they are thought to have turned their attention elsewhere following a series of poor displays from the Belgian last season.
Vermaelen is unlikely to settle for a season on the bench, especially with the World Cup on the horizon, but such was the form of the Arsenal back line in his absence, he looks set to start next season in exactly that position.
Will Vermaelen be persuaded to join Napoli this summer or does he love Arsenal too much? Rate this rumour below.
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