Arsenal & United target snubbed deadline day bid

Arsenal and Manchester United target Jan Vertonghen was the subject of a deadline day bid from Sunderland.

talkSPORT are reporting that martin O’Neill made an audacious attempt to sign a player who reportedly is greatly admired by some within Emirates Stadium and Old Trafford.

Both Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson were largely dormant in the transfer window, which may have spurred the Black Cats to make a move.

The Belgium international I said to have turned the move down as he wants to play Champions League football next season.

If reports are correct, both Wenger and Ferguson would surely have taken note of Ajax’s willingness to cash in on their captain.

Vertonghen’s contract runs out in 2013 and the Dutch giants were presumably keen to get as high a fee as possible for him, as he will lose value in the summer when he only has a year left on the deal.

Were Vertonghen to join the Gunners, he would line up to former Ajax and current Belgium team-mate Thomas Vermaelen.