Ray Parlour expects Arsenal to let Thomas Vermaelen join Manchester United

Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour believes that the club will not stand in the way of Thomas Vermaelen if the defender decides to join Manchester United.

The North-West outfit are said to have switched their attention to the 28-year-old, who dropped down the pecking order under manager Arsene Wenger last season.

On Monday, reports claimed that the Arsenal club captain has agreed in principle a deal with United worth around £100,000 per week.

"If he wants to play football, and an offer comes in from a club like Manchester United, then it's hard for the club to say, 'no, you can't go there, we want to sell you to a club in Italy or Spain'," Parlour told talkSPORT.

"He was doing the captain's notes last year in the Arsenal programme but not getting in the team. I can't see that changing anytime soon. He wants to play first team football."

Vermaelen has one year remaining on his contract at the Emirates.