Thomas Vermaelen is set to leave Arsenal and leave Manchester United hanging.

UK media today reports that Arsene Wenger has accepted a £15m bid for Thomas Vermaelen. An offer the French can't refuse. 

The Belgian defender has only one year left of his contract and with only 14 appearances in the Premier League last season, he doesn't seem to have a future for the Gunners with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny performing solid in the defense. 

Manchester United have been linked with the Belgian for some time, but Vermaelen seems lost for the Red Devils as Barcelona snatch him in front of Vermaelen. 

The Catalonians have been looking to strengthen their central defends this summer, and several players have been trough the transfer rumour mill including Liverpool's Daniel Agger. While Wenger should be happy with the £15m deal, this is bad news for Agger as his exit from Liverpool is on hold; at least for a while.

According to the Mirror, Arsenal are interested in signing the Dane as a back up for Mertesacker and Koscielny, but it is very unlikely Wenger will make an offer for the 29-year-old defender. However, the manager has brought in experienced defenders from rival clubs in the past, and Agger can hope that Arsenal will offer him the exit from Liverpool he so badly wants. 

Other defenders Wenger has brought in from rival clubs:

William Gallas, Sol Campbell, Mikael Silvestre

Wealthy Danish investor wants a Danish-only club in the Premier League within five years.

The Danish business-man, who wishes to stay anonymous until further, is preparing the start up of an all Danish football club and aims to bring them from non-league to the Premier League within five years. 

According to the secret soon-to-be club owner, Daniel Agger and Christian Eriksen are his main targets for the new team, and the two stars will be followed up by names as Nicklas Helenius and Jores Okore. The club will use the Danish Superliga to find the talents before clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea gets their hands on them.

According to a spokesperson, the club will be funded through the investors windmill factory.

Sam Navret, the same Arsenal fan that started the petition for Luis Suarez to be handed over to Arsenal, Sunday launched a new petition to make the FA ban Daniel Agger for his tackling on Jack Wilshere. During England's friendly against, Denmark Agger broke the leg of Wilshere sending him on the sidelined for the title race. According to Sam Navret 'It has been well-known that Liverpool FC have been on a campaign to destroy Arsenal and we, the fans of Arsenal, believe that Daniel Agger was instructed by Liverpool's owner John Henry to target Jack Wilshere during the match.' What's next Sam?

Wednesday March 12 - Tim Sherwood warns Spurs' players

Perform or leave, that seems to the message from Tim Sherwood after the embarrassing loss to Chelsea in the weekend. Wednesday the manager told the press that "It's come to a stage where we have to start looking at pre-season. I'm the one planning it at the moment and looking at different personnel. The boys here have an opportunity to prove that they want to stay. If not, they'll be moved on and we'll look for replacements. I know the DNA of the guys and I know the ones I can trust and those I can't." Yesterday, Tottenham lost 3-1 to Benfica, so maybe a few of the players are already on their way out the door.

Wednesday March 12 - Two out, two to go?

First Arsenal played an entire match in Munich being one step behind Bayern through 90 minutes. Then Manchester City's billionaire boys were learned a lesson by Barcelona... In both matches, the referees were criticised. Fact is that yet another year English football seems to be run over by German and Spanish teams. That said, Manchester United and Chelsea can still bring some pride to England, but with United being behind with two against Olympiacos the faith lies with Chelsea. Next week will show if England has lost their place in European top football.

Thursday March 13 - Oops, I did it again...

Bendtner, Bendtner, Bendtner... just as we thought he was back and had left all the scandals behind him, Bendtner decides to take off his pants and rub his crotch on a taxi. Furthermore, the Danish striker told the taxi driver that he would "Fuck him" as well as kicked the radio in the cab. Wonder if Bendtner wanting to bang a taxi driver is a clear sign to his girlfriend? One thing is for sure: Bendtner's agent will have to do a hard mans work to find the striker a new club this summer.

Thursday March 13 - Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting

Back in the days Eric Cantona kicked Crystal Palace fans 'Karate-style'; now he is also assaulting pub guests. The French Manchester United legend was arrested in Primrose Hill, London, after a burst up with a pub guest - which didn't need medical treatment - and was trying to walk away from the police. However, an officer stopped the French and finally, got him placed in the back of the police car. There is currently no news about what had happened or whether the victim will press charges against Cantona.

He's 21, vice captain and has played more than fifty matches for the first team of Odense BK. However, Daniel Høegh has not had the easiest way to the top.

In 2004, Høegh joined Odense Bk and started his way up through the youth department. During his time at the clubs U16 team he won the Danish U16 Championship and was less or more a regular part of the team. However, Daniel Høegh is not the typical talent:

'I have never considered myself as the greatest talent; in my youth years, I played on the same team as Christian Eriksen [Ajax Amsterdam] and by the age of fifteen, his future career was already clear. I was not always a part of the first team and had matches for the reserves as well, so it has not always been a bed of roses for me'.

However, the defender continued to work hard and found himself in the squad for a Superliga match against SønderjyskE in 2008. The talent did not get his debut at this time but had a taste of life as a proffesional.

After another selection for the squad - again against SønderjyskE - in 2009, Høegh started playing with the reserves despite his young age. Here, he convinced the coaches that he was ready to take the next step and got his debut in Superligaen against Fc Midtjylland in 2010. the debut was followed up by a contract lasting for 2 years.

'Throug out my youth years I have been hungry for a professional career, which I now have achieved. It is a dream coming true, and I am living it now'.

Daniel Høegh was quick to grab his chance at the Superliga team and has become a profile for the club. Coach Troels Bech has some promising words about his defender:

'He is an attentive player who is fast to learn some experience. He has a good speed and technique as well as a great passing play, and he is strong in the air'.

Despite his young age, Høegh has gathered some routine and is vice captain for Odense. The talent is hoping to become the captain one day as it will be 'a great honour'. The defender might have a chance of this, Bech says:

'It happens more often that he takes responsibility and the command. It is a good sign especially as he is a young stopper and has a position on the pitch where he can communicate'.

Daniel Høegh might have learned the leader role from watching his idol Daniel Agger. The young defender finds some 'equal signs' in his own and Aggers way to professional football. Furthermore, Liverpool is the favorite team of the Odense comet.

The international career has so far given Høegh twenty three matches. He was also given match time in the two meetings against Spain last week. Here, Denmark was sent out of the U21 Euro qualification with an 8-1 loss over two matches. Despite the two lost matches, Høegh finds the positive in the meetings with Spain:

'It was a great experience to get because it was against players who plays on a higher level than us. I believe that I showed some skills and that we were a part of the game'.

Daniel Høegh dreams of one day to have his debut on the Danish senior team:

'I put a great honor in representing Denmark and has always done it when I have dressed the Danish youth-shirt. It will be an honor to play in the Danish senior shirt'.

First step towards becoming a national player, is to become a profile in the Danish Superliga, both Høegh and Bech says. The next opportunity for this is on Sunday when Odense meets Fc Midtjylland in Herning.

   

This week’s football list features the five most influential Danish players in English football through time.