Barcelona news: Liverpool launch cut-price offer to sign former Arsenal player Thomas Vermaelen

Liverpool have launched a formal, cut-price offer worth €10m (£7.7, $11.3m) to lure Barcelona defender Thomas Vermalen back to the Premier League, according to Sport. The Spanish publication claims that the Catalans are ready to part ways with the former Arsenal defender this summer but still hopes to receive better bids from other English clubs amid West Ham's interest in securing his services.

Barcelona signed the Belgium international defender in the summer of 2014, after paying Arsenal around €19m (£14.75M, $21.5m) to secure his services. However, the 30-year-old has failed to make any impact at the Nou Camp after being hit by injuries since his first days at the club.

Vermaelen eventually joined the Catalans after suffering a hamstring injury during the Brazil World Cup, of which forced him to go under the knife in November and subsequently, only able to play one La Liga game during his first season at the club. The former Arsenal vice-captain has failed to build on those statistics in the current campaign, having only made 14 starting appearances for the club and is currently on the side-lines.

Recent reports in Spain claim that Barcelona are ready to admit their mistake, just two seasons after his arrival by selling him to fund the move for a top centre-back, amid speculation linking them with the likes Marquinhos, Aymeric Laporte or Jose Maria Gimenez.

Sport now reports that the Catalan club have received a "first formal offer" from Liverpool to secure Vermalen's services ahead of the summer transfer window. Yet, the Reds want to get him on the cheap and will not be ready to pay more than €10m, despite Barcelona almost paying the north London club double the amount two seasons ago.

Barcelona, nevertheless, still hope to receive more lucrative deals amid West Ham's interest in luring him back to London.

Sport also claims that Turkey's Besiktas also wants to secure the centre-back, but the Belgium international would rather to return to the Premier League instead. The Spanish publication points out that Chelsea were also linked with his services in recent months but the Blues have not made any contact to either the player or Barcelona.