Barcelona beat Manchester United in race to sign Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen in £15m transfer after two clubs agree fee

•  Barcelona are set to sign Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen
• Two clubs have agreed a £15million transfer fee for the the defender 
• Vermaelen's deal is now pending personal terms, with Barca representatives offering a four-year contract worth £80,000 a week on Wednesday  
• Vermaelen's Barca four-year contract will have the option of an extra year 
• Belgian international's transfer is a blow to Manchester United who wanted to secure him on a three-year contract 
• United offered £15million but Gunners wanted Chris Smalling in a swap deal

Barcelona have agreed a £15million transfer fee with Arsenal to sign Thomas Vermaelen, in what will be a blow to Manchester United. 

The deal is now pending personal terms between Vermaelen's agent and the Nou Camp outfit before the deal can be finalised.

On Wednesday, Barcelona sent transfer negotiator Raul Sanllehi to London and he had productive talks offering a four-year contract, with the option of an extra year, worth £80,000 a week.