Newcastle eye up Arsenal skipper Thomas Vermaelen

ARSENAL defender Thomas Vermaelen is a January transfer target for Newcastle.

Thomas Vermaelen could be on his way out of the Emirates after falling down the pecking order [PA ARCHIVE/PRESS ASSOCIATION IMAGES]

The Geordies’ director of football, Joe Kinnear, has watched the Belgium international twice in the last month.

Any move for Vermaelen though will be a loan deal.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is reluctant to allow his club captain to leave on a permanent basis midway through the campaign.

Wenger has only three recognised first-team centre-halves – and would want a recall clause on Vermaelen should anything happen to regular pair Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.

Vermaelen, 27, has made just one Premier League appearance since recovering from a long-term back injury.

He fears his World Cup place with much fancied Belgium could be in danger if he is unable to get more regular action and Wenger is sympathetic to that plight.