After an unexpected rumor which said Manchester United are interested in signing Arsenal’s captain, made the news, an even more unexpected rumor emerged. According to the Telegraph, the Belgian international has agreed to leave for United as soon as the World Cup is over. The defender who is now in Brazil, reached a verbal agreement with Arsenal’s rivals with Wenger the only one standing between him and his new team.

Vermaelen could become the second player to leave the Emirates this summer after Sagna signed with Manchester City. The Belgian defender has still one year left on his contract and will probably choose to leave now despite the Gunners squad problems.  The 28 year old will also receive an increase in salary which is not an option if he continues with Arsenal. Currently valued at £10 million, the Gunner would join a long list of Arsenal players who joined rival Premier League teams. If the Manchester United deal goes down, he will join former teammate Van Persie who left the Emirates in 2012.

Somehow Wenger has managed to lose three captains in the past few years, each leaving for rival teams or joining rival teams later on. With the Gunners clearly having squad depth issues, it is hard to understand why they would let Vermaelen go without even making a single incoming transfer this summer. Hopefully for Gooners, Wenger will start spending that considerable transfer budget in order to avoid last year’s Premier League outcome when the North Londoners could not keep up with the likes of Chelsea and City because of their thin squad.