Former Arsenal defender keen on Emirates return; West Ham also interested

Former Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen is reportedly keen to return to the club this summer, according to the Daily Star.

The Belgium international moved to the Camp Nou for £15 million in 2014 from the Gunners, but he has only made 11 appearances in the league because of number of injuries throughout that period, meaning he is yet to make an impression with the La Liga champions.

The recent arrivals of Samuel Umtiti from Lyon, and Lucas Digne from Paris Saint-Germain, look to have pushed the 30-year-old further down the defensive pecking order at the Spanish giants, and he is now understood to be keen on a return to the Premier League.

Arsenal’s London rivals, West Ham United, are also said to be interested in the Belgian, but Vermaelen, who can play at centre-back or left-back, would prefer to return to the former, where he made 150 appearances in all competitions over five seasons.