Report: Liverpool register interest in £63m Barcelona player, lead chase to land him this summer

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Published on:

08 Jun 2016, 1:37 pm

By North-west correspondent Alex Stevens

Liverpool have registered their interest in signing Thomas Vermaelen from Barcelona this summer, according to a report.

The Belgian centre-back has failed to establish himself at Camp Nou since transferring from Arsenal two summers ago.

According to Spanish publication Sport, Liverpool have asked to be kept informed of the 30-year-old's situation by his agents as the likelihood grows that he will leave Barca in the summer window.

It is said that Vermaelen, whose wife is English, is considering his future in Spain and is keen on a return to the Premier League.

The Belgium international, who is his country's Euro 2016 squad, is also being tracked by West Ham although the Londoners have yet to contact Barca to enquire after his availability.

Sport report that Vermaelen has a £63million release clause in the five-year contract that he signed following his £14million move from Arsenal two years ago.

However, that figure is effectively meaningless as the Belgian has only been a bit-part player at Camp Nou and is regarded as surplus to requirements by his employer.

Vermaelen made 20 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona in 2015-16, only 10 of which were in the Spanish league.

In other Liverpool transfer news, Leeds have reacted to claims they have received a bid from the Merseysiders for their star youngster.

Liverpool FC

Barcelona

Thomas Vermaelen