Arsène Wenger has admitted Thomas Vermaelen may leave Arsenal.

Vermaelen has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United, where he would link up with his former manager at Ajax, Louis van Gaal.

On Friday, at a press conference before this weekend’s Emirates Cup, Wenger said: “At the moment Thomas Vermaelen is here. He is injured at the moment with a short-term injury. It [a move] could happen, yes it’s a possibility that he goes. If he goes we have to replace him because he’s an important player in our squad.

“I expect him to stay but he, of course, did not play enough games last year. For me he’s a very important player but I couldn’t guarantee him the games he wanted last year.”