Newcastle United have targeted a loan move for Thomas Vermaelen in the January transfer window, according to the Daily Star.

The Magpies' director of football, Joe Kinnear, is reported to have watched the central defender twice in the last month as the club weigh up a move.

Vermaelen has struggled to regain a first-team place since recovering from a long-term back injury, making only one Premier League appearance so far this season.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger would be reluctant to let his club captain leave on a permanent basis, but Newcastle believe that they can land the 27-year-old, who has one eye on next year's World Cup.

The Gunners would only have two recognised centre-backs in Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny should Vermaelen leave on loan in January.