The reports, which are currently doing their rounds in Arsenal blogs and forums extolled the 26-year-old star, and advised Arsene Wenger to snap the seasoned defender, who according to the reports is a replica of Vermaelen (actually, he's a bit taller - 6ft 6in) and a perfect replacement for the outgoing ex skipper William Gallas.
The Arsenal manager is believed to be in possession of a massive transfer warchest worth about £45m.
Meanwhile, Arsenal's chairman Peter Hill-Wood has declared that he still trusts Arsene Wenger's archaic way of doing business during this summer's transfer window. The chairman stated in unequivocal terms the Frenchman won't panic buy ahead of next season's campaign:
Certainly Arsene has got his eyes and ears open. What he is not prepared to do is spend the money on players who won't fit in at Arsenal and improve when they are there. It is very easy to buy players who everyone has heard of. Anyway, it is not true to say we do not spend money. Thomas Vermaelen was not cheap and neither was Andrey Arshavin. It was the same with (Samir) Nasri. I think the boy (Marouane) Chamakh is a good player.
