Barça could renew Thomas Vermaelen for another year!

Barcelona are planning for next season and one area they have an eye on is in the middle of defence. For that season, the club are keen to extend Thomas Vermaelen's deal by an additional year. They're satisfied with how he's been performing. 

Vermaelen and Barça are already in talks and hope to reach an agreement. In the case that they don't, the club could put him on the market this summer to try and recover the investment they made in him. 

The Belgian international has held various meetings with the club this summer. In October, he expressed his concern at a lack of minutes and asked to leave in January if he was still not playing regularly in the build-up to the World Cup. 

Coach Ernesto Valverde is a fan of his style and told him to be calm and that he would get his chance if he stayed fit. 

And he did. He began to play ahead of Javier Mascherano, establishing himself as the third choice behind Samuel Umtiti and Gerard Pique.  

Barça understand they're in a weak position because Vermaelen could leave for three next summer. The idea is to keep him in the squad for next season as the third or fourth centre-back, prolonging his deal to 2020 in the process. 

There is interest from the Premier League and Serie A but the player is happy in Barcelona and appreciates the support he has received throughout his injury problems. The idea is to extend his contract and everyone hopes an agreement will be reached.