Barcelona Coach Ernesto Valverde would want to block the potential planned departure of Thomas Vermaelen this summer, say reports in Spain.
Diario Sport claim the boss is keen to maintain the Belgian international in his squad despite the arrival of Clement Lenglet from Sevilla this summer.
The report claims this move has pushed Vermaelen back to being the third-choice ‘left-sided’ central defender behind the Frenchman and Samuel Umtiti.
Despite his proneness to injury – which restricted him to just 18 league starts in four league campaigns – the former Arsenal defender started 12 La Liga matches last campaign.
The 32-year-old spent the 2016/17 campaign on loan at Roma but was once more frustrated by injuries.
