Transfer Rumor: Arsenal Tempting Ajax with £10m Cash Plus Player Offer for Defender Jan Vertonghen?

With the January transfer window in sight, new rumors have started cropping up, and if the latest rumors are to be believed, London heavy weight Arsenal is trying to lure away Ajax's Belgian defender and captain Jan Vertonghen with an offer of £10 million cash plus player made to the reigning Dutch champions.

Arsenal's French boss, Arsene Wenger, reportedly, has offered Ajax's manager the heavy cash and a choice of player from the selected Arsenal squad in exchange of the 24-year-old Belgian international. It is believed that among the choice of players include Moroccan striker Marouane Chamakh and French centre-back Sebastien Squillaci. Both the players have found it hard to adapt to the Premier League way of life.

Defenders Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny have also found it hard to get a foothold on the Premier League and have struggled to put a run of form together whenever they have been called upon by the manager to deliver for the club.

Germany international Per Mertesacker, who was expected to strengthen the defensive line of the club, has been left alone with growing injury concerns over Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen.

The Gunners have now conceded 21 goals in 10 Premier League games that have left Wenger in serious discomfort over his team's future and the ability to finish at least in the top four, if not win the Premier League.

Wenger may make an attempt to lure the Belgian international away this January in order to strengthen the back side of the team and stop conceding unnecessary goals, according to a Caughtoffside report.

Following the departure of Uruguay international Luis Suárez for Liverpool in January 2011, Vertonghen was appointed vice-captain of Ajax under Maarten Stekelenburg's captaincy; he was later made captain of the Dutch champions following Stekelenburg's transfer to A.S. Roma.

On 23 August 2006, Vertonghen made his first team debut in the Champions League third qualifying round against Copenhagen. He made his first start and Eredivisie debut in a 6-0 win over Willem II in the Amsterdam Arena.

The Belgian defender is equally skilled at playing anywhere on the left side of the field or in defensive midfield and frequently joins in the attack from his centre back position.

Vertonghen has made 132 appearances for Ajax and has managed to find the back of the net 19 times. He has also made 34 appearances for Belgium and scored against Czech Republic and Azerbaijan.