Arsenal have told Thomas Vermaelen that they want him to stay at the club next season even if they do add a fourth centre-back this summer.

Swansea's Ashley Williams is very much on Arsenal's radar and, although Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker have become established as the first-choice centre-back pairing, manager Arsene Wenger is conscious of the need to have more defensive options next season.

Vermaelen knows that he needs regular football to have the best chance of playing in the World Cup next summer if, as expected, Belgium do qualify.

The situation is complicated by the fact that Vermaelen succeeded Robin van Persie last summer as Arsenal captain.

Vermaelen is likely to seek reassurance from Wenger about the situation but is expected to at least start the season with Arsenal and fight for his place.