According to Sport, Liverpool have already submitted a formal offer to Barcelona for Vermaelen in the area of £7.5 million.
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In the wake of Mamadou Sakho’s impending punishment for failing a drug test, Liverpool are wasting no time scouring the globe for his replacement. Martin Skrtel is expected to leave the Merseyside club after falling out of favour, although Dejan Lovren, Kolo Toure and Sakho are expected to remain – the latter dependent on any possible ban that comes from a Uefa hearing expected to take place in Friday. But he arrived having picked up an injury at the World Cup finals that summer.
The former Arsenal captain moved to Nou Camp in a £15 million move in 2014.
The ball-playing centre-back was similarly consistent over four seasons in the first team at Ajax, but injuries and the form of Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique and Jeremy Mathieu have limited his opportunities at Barcelona. He didn’t play during his first season as he was out injured for the entirety of the campaign and has made just nine starts for Barcelona this season.
Besiktas are said to be very interested in a move, but the reports from Spain say that he’s willing to disregard just about all other offers if it means a return to England, and the Premier League.
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It’s also claimed that West Ham are determined to battle Liverpool for his signature, and Barcelona are hopeful that the Hammers can spark a bidding war for their defensive flop.
