Vermaelen: Barcelona defender set for loan move to Roma

Barcelona's Thomas Vermaelen is to undergo a medical with AS Roma ahead of a season-long loan switch to the Serie A club.

The LaLiga champions confirmed on Sunday that the defender had been given permission to travel to Rome.

Purchase option included in the deal

Roma have agreed to cover Vermaelen's wages over the coming campaign, and are understood to have negotiated an option to make the move permanent next summer.

Barça are believed to have failed in their attempts to make the purchase clause obligatory.

Vermaelen was not involved in Los Azulgranas' pre-season defeat to Liverpool on Saturday to avoid the possibility of an injury scuppering the deal.

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