The Red Devils have not given up on signing Vermaelen.
Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen remains a transfer target for Manchester United who are set to increase their offer to land the defender, according to Goal.
The Red Devils had an opening £6m bid for the 28-year-old rejected by the Gunners and are now willing to offer closer to £10m to get their man.
New manager Louis van Gaal is keen to sign at least one new centre-back this summer following the departure of both Rio Ferdinand and skipper Nemanja Vidic on free transfers.
With Patrice Evra also strongly linked with an exit to Juventus, van Gaal wants to bring in a player who can also operate at left-back as well.
There have been a number of candidates that the Dutchman had picked out to fill that role, but of those Bruno Martins Indi has joined FC Porto and Eliaquim Mangala looks set for Manchester City.
That is what has drawn van Gaal to Vermaelen, with the Belgium international playing on the left side of defence for his nation at the recent 2014 World Cup and for his club last season.
The defensive ace is also understood to be keen on a move away from the Emirates Stadium due to his emission from the starting XI by Arsene Wenger.
Last term Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker were the preferred partnership at the back for the Frenchman and Vermaelen is keen to achieve more first team football than the 21 appearances he made in 2013/14.
READ MORE: Manchester United transfer gossip.
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