Premier League pair top Barcelona transfer wish-list

Liverpool’s Daniel Agger and Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen are top of Barcelona’s summer transfer wishlist, according to the Sun.

Barcelona’s recent slump in form has reportedly prompted the Catalan club to firm up their summer transfer plans, and securing a new centre-back has become a pressing matter.

Captain Carles Puyol has spent a large portion of the season out injured, and the Sun claim one of Agger or Vermaelen could be bought in as a long-term replacement.

The paper reports Barcelona are eying a centre-back who can fit in with the club’s idiosyncratic style, and with long-term target Mats Hummels deemed too expensive, Vermaelen and Agger are set to be targeted.

Agger was the subject of interest from Barcelona over the summer but the Dane opted to stay at Anfield, while the Sun claim Manchester City had a £20 million offer for the Liverpool defender turned down.

Martin Skertl's recent outburst at being dropped by Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers recently has cast doubt over his future on Merseyside, something which may impact on the club's resolve to keep hold of Agger.

Vermaelen meanwhile has failed to find the form he showed last season, and could be stripped of the captaincy at Arsenal in the summer, throwing his future into further doubt.

The Sun claim a £15 million bid could tempt Arsenal into selling up at the end of the season.