Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has today confirmed that Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen may leave the club this summer.
Wenger has been busy again this summer with the addition of Chile forward Alexis Sanchez, whose place at Barcelona has since been filled by Suarez, as well as England youth international Calum Chambers and Newcastle defender Mathieu Debuchy.
There may yet be players moving away from the Emirates Stadium as Wenger admitted the future of reported Manchester United target Thomas Vermaelen remains unclear, with the club captain unhappy at his lack of first-team action last season.
"At the moment Thomas Vermaelen is here," added Wenger. "He is injured at the moment with a short-term injury. It (a move) could happen, yes it's a possibility that he goes. If he goes we have to replace him because he's an important player in our squad.
"I expect him to stay but he, of course, did not play enough games last year. For me he's a very important player but I couldn't guarantee him the games he wanted last year."
All these deals mean, for the first time in several years, that Wenger has his new recruits in well ahead of the start of the season – even if he may not yet be finished in the transfer market.
"I'm very happy because I did what I wanted, and I am still open to do more," he said. "Let's not forget that we are at August 1 today, and the transfer window closes on the 31st. For years, it's a long time I didn't sit with you here on the first of August having done quite a lot.
"We are a bit ahead of what we usually do, because the availability on the market was bigger and earlier than before."
