Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on Matteo Darmian and Thomas Vermaelen Rumours

Barcelona are reportedly interested in a deal for Italian full-back Matteo Darmian, a player new Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is willing to sell.

Daily Star Sunday writer Steve Millar broke down Darmian's tough first season at Old Trafford as well as Barca's connection to the player, particularly with Camp Nou sporting director Ariedo Braida:

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The right-back is not wanted by new boss Jose Mourinho only 12 months after his £12.7m arrival from Torino.

Braida, the Nou Camp’s sporting director, knows Darmian from his early days at AC Milan.

Darmian started life at United well after being brought to Old Trafford by Louis van Gaal. ...

However his confidence faded after a 3-0 drubbing by Arsenal in November - a game in which Alexis Sanchez gave him difficulties.

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Millar also noted how Darmian would cost Barca as much as £16 million. It seems a hefty fee for a player who struggled to make the step up when he arrived at United.

Still, Barcelona need a viable replacement for Dani Alves, with the veteran Brazilian reportedly set to have a medical ahead of joining Serie A giants Juventus this summer, according to Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia).

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague recently told Sky Sports News HQ (h/t Metro's Lee Thomas-Mason) how Arsenal have already rebuffed the Camp Nou club concerning any deal for Hector Bellerin, a former youth player with the Blaugrana.

Darmian isn't as highly regarded as the former La Masia academy prospect, but he still has qualities Barca appreciate in their full-backs. He's good going forward, displaying deceptive pace and solid delivery from wide areas.

However, the 26-year-old would need to improve his passing and vary his movement to seamlessly fit into Barca's intricate style of possession play. Torino to United proved a difficult hurdle for Darmian, but Old Trafford to La Liga may be even harder to manage.

Thomas Vermaelen Targeted by AS Roma

Barcelona could be set to lose another defender as Serie A outfit AS Roma continue to try to reach a deal for Thomas Vermaelen.

Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) detailed the capital-city club's pursuit of a player who might cost a fee of "around €10 million" and "could be available on loan with a mandatory option to buy."

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

The report also cited the "repeated muscular problems" that blighted Vermaelen last season. He's a player who has struggled to stay off the treatment table since moving to the Camp Nou in 2014.

When fit, Vermaelen's a quick and cultured defender who poses a significant goal threat. Yet he can make rash decisions in the box and is vulnerable in the air.

Defensive depth is something of an issue in Barca's squad, with 32-year-old Jeremy Mathieu also suspect. But the club can still afford to wave goodbye to Vermaelen as they prepare to sign a new left-sided defender, Lyon's Samuel Umtiti, "in the next few weeks," according to Luis F. Rojo of Marca.

Umtiti's arrival would surely leave Vermaelen surplus to requirements, especially if the Liga champions can secure a decent fee as part of any loan deal with Roma.