Juventus linked with Thomas Vermaelen

Italian champions Juventus have become the latest side linked with a summer swoop for Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen.

The Belgian international has fallen out of favour at the Emirates in recent months, with Arsene Wenger preferring the central defensive partnership of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.

Vermaelen has two years left on his Gunners contract and his availability has attracted the attention of Juve boss Antonio Conte, according to Tuttosport.

Juve are far from short of defensive options but are thought to consider Vermaelen worthy of interest in a cut-price deal as they bid to improve in the Champions League next season.

Serie A rivals Napoli have also been strongly linked with a move for the 27-year-old, amid reports that Wenger is prepared to sell his skipper to fund bids for summer transfer targets.