Everton are reportedly eyeing up former Gunner, Thomas Vermaelen.

Everton boss, Ronald Koeman, has reportedly been given a heads-up that he can sign former Arsenal centre-back, Vermaelen, from Barcelona on the cheap.

Koeman apparently wants the 31-year-old as back-up.

The Belgium international, who is also allegedly wanted by West Brom and Anderlecht, signed for the La Liga giants for a reported £15m in 2014 but the injury-prone defender has gone on to only made 21 appearances over all competitions for the Catalans.

Plus 12 he made while on loan at Roma last season.

He even picked up a new strain in a pre-season friendly against Gimnàstic de Tarragona at the end of last week.

Barca are understandably pretty keen to offload Vermaelen considering they hardly have any use for him and, as we covered yesterday, according to reports, they have to pay Arsenal an extra €3.5m if they win the Champions League for the second time in five years with him in the squad.

On the other hand, other reports claim that Barca could keep him as new manager, Ernesto Valverde, might want him as a ‘reserve’.

At the moment, Barca only have Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti as their first choice centre-backs, and Javier Mascherano as their first reserve.

Vermaelen currently has two years left on his current deal but it’s difficult to see him genuinely featuring in Valverde’s plans.

It’ll be interesting to see him back in the Premier League, even if it’s only between trips to the treatment room.