Arsenal Captain Thomas Vermaelen Denies Claims He is Poised to Join Manchester United

Arsenal skipper Thomas Vermaelen has denied reports suggesting he is close to joining Manchester United.

The Daily Telegraph suggested on Monday Louis van Gaal was set to make the Belgian international his first signing at Old Trafford in a summer where the Dutchman is expected to make sweeping changes to the squad that recorded the club's worst ever league finish in the Premier League era.

Vermaelen has not been a regular in Arsene Wenger's side for nearly 18 months after being ousted by the partnership of Per Mertesackaer and Laurent Koscielny and has just one year remaining on his contact at the Emirates.

However, the 28-year-old insists he has not yet made a decision on his future. "I know there has been a lot of talk and a lot of rumours but the only thing I can say is that it's not true," Vermaelen, who is currently on World Cup duty with Belgium, told Sky Sports News.

"Everybody understands my situation at Arsenal and that I have one year left.

"I understand that people are going to talk but I am here in Brazil and I am enjoying my time and I'm focused on what I am doing."

During the 2013/14 season, Wenger went to great efforts in securing the futures of his current group of players as Mertesacker, Koscielny, Santi Cazorla, Tomas Rosicky, Aaron Ramsey, Wojciech Szczesny, Serge Gnabry and midfield prospect Gedion Zelalem all signed new long term contracts.

A lack of clarity regarding Vermaelen's future has suggested he may join Bacary Sagna in leaving the Gunners this summer but the centre half has refused to be drawn on his talks with the club.

"We talk a lot when I am at Arsenal but it's not what I am going to discuss here, it is something you are going to have to ask him."