Everton to bid for former Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen

Everton are set to make a shock bid for Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen, who signed for the club this season from Arsenal, reports The Mirror.

29-year-old Vermaelen joined the Catalan club for £15 million in the summer (via Sky Sports) but he his yet to make his debut in Spain, due to a string of injuries which have hampered his recovery process.

Managaer, Luis Enrique, could be willing to cut his losses though and send him back to England where he could be plying his trade at Goddison Park.

Roberto Martinez wants to bolster his options in the Everton defence, with the Toffees struggling at times in this campaign. The Belgian would likely face competition from England internationals Phil Jagielka and John Stones though, with the pair winning 66% and 64% of their duels respectively.

Vermaelen played 150 games for Arsenal, scoring 15 goals, with the FA Cup being his only trophy during his time in North London. Silverware wasn't a problem at his former club Ajax though, where he won the Eredivisie, KNVB Cup and Johan Cruijff Shield. He has also played 47 times for Belgium and represented them at the last World Cup.