Reports in the Dutch press have claimed that Highbury hero Dennis Bergkamp played a vital role in recommending Gunners new boy Thomas Vermaelen to Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger. The Belgian international finalised his medical and signed a contract with the north London club on Friday in a deal thought to be worth in excess of £10m.
It is now believed that Wenger may have been alerted to the centre-back’s much-vaunted leadership qualities and determined persona by former player Bergkamp who spent last season undertaking his first coaching position at Vermaelen’s former club Ajax. The celebrated striker began his career with the Amsterdam outfit in the mid eighties, spending seven years in the famous red and white jerseys before moving to Inter Milan and then Arsenal.
Having previously denied any interest in furthering his career in the game, Bergkamp was lured to Ajax by compatriot Marco van Basten last summer and took his tentative first steps in the coaching world by guiding several ranks of youngsters at the club’s famed Academy.
Speaking about his new career path, the 40-year-old revealed:
"It's always open of course. I always enjoyed it in England and always enjoyed it at Arsenal,so for me, it opens up alot of possibilities.
"I can stay in Holland but I've always got my eye on England as well because I enjoyed it so much, for me it wouldbe nice to go back there."
Earlier this month, Bergkamp also made public his desire to see Wenger spend big on the Arsenal squad hinting that physical players such as Yaya Toure would fit the mould.
Yaya will fit in there straight away of course because of his family there.
"He knows the players there, has trained with us for a few weeks and so it would be fantastic.
"It's wise to put some new players in for the team's sake.
"I remember when I was a player, it was always a good feeling when you got four of five new players in July in the dressing room."