Manchester United have made move for Vermaelen, confirms Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed Manchester United have made a bid for Thomas Vermaelen.

The Belgium international is not guaranteed a first-team place at the Emirates, with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny forming Wenger's preferred central-defensive partnership, and wants to move on this summer.

Wenger is sympathetic to the 28-year-old's situation and says he will not keep him at the club against his will.

He is wanted by Premier League rivals United, although Barcelona are also understood to be circling, and Arsenal would favour selling the player to a foreign club.

"Have we received bids? Yes," Wenger said. "Are Man United one of the teams to have made an offer? I think they could be in the group.

"Ideally, we would like to sell him abroad and that is an option for us. I don't want to say how many offers we have but we have offers from abroad as well."

"He could leave, it could happen, I've said that since the start of pre-season," he added.

"He needs to play now. He has shown an outstanding attitude but he is in a position where we wouldn't stand in his way if he finds an interesting opportunity."