Four players set to depart after not being given Barcelona squad numbers for next season

Thomas Vermaelen is one of four players not given a squad number by Barcelona ahead of the forthcoming season.

The former Arsenal captain, who spent last season on loan at Serie A outfit Roma, is expected to leave the Camp Nou this summer.

Joining him in limbo is defender Douglas Pereira, midfielder Sergi Samper and forward Munir El Haddadi – the latter two graduates of the club’s youth set-up – whilst Gerard Deulofeu, who returned to his boyhood club this summer, and new acquisition Nelson Semedo have also not been given a number.

However, that should change anytime soon as both are expected to be part of Ernesto Valverde’s first team plans with Semedo likely to be Barcelona’s right-back for the foreseeable future.

Vermaelen, who joined the Catalan powerhouse in 2014, sees his present deal expire in June 2019 and has already been associated with a move back to England.

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Thomas Vermaelen averaged four defensive actions per Serie A match last season

The 31-year-old played for the Gunners across five seasons, but much of his time in North London was plagued with injury troubles, as a result he only made 110 league appearances out of a potential 190.

Since leaving it hasn’t been any better for the Belgium international, having only played 11 times in La Liga and nine in Serie A, across the last three seasons.