Arthur Vermeeren: Man City, Arsenal & Tottenham enquire about Antwerp sensation

Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have all been in contact with Royal Antwerp over 18-year-old midfielder Arthur Vermeeren, 90min understands.

Posted Friday, October 13, 2023 by 90min.com

Vermeeren has been a revelation over the past 12 months since becoming an Antwerp starter at 17. The club, once an unofficial farm team for Manchester United, won their first Belgian title in 66 years last season and then made it through to the 2023/24 Champions League group stage.

The young defensive midfielder has been a key part of that success and his talent has also been recognised by Belgium national team boss Domenico Tedesco, who has selected both he and fellow uncapped Antwerp teammate Mandela Keita for this month’s international fixtures.

Vermeeren, actually called up as an injury replacement for Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard, will be hoping to make his senior Belgium debut in either of the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Austria or Sweden – the Red Devils are already well on their to reaching a sixth successive major tournament.

90min understands that Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham have each made enquiries to Antwerp about Vermeeren, who has a contract until 2026 after signing a new one last season the day after he turned 18. But the Premier League trio are not alone in showing interest.

Arthur Vermeeren: Man City, Arsenal & Tottenham enquire about Antwerp sensation
Arthur Vermeeren has been called up by Belgium

Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus are all keeping watch, meaning Vermeeren has at least half a dozen of Europe's biggest clubs keeping an eye on his progress.

Barca, in particular, have seen Vermeeren up close and personal aleady in the Champions League when they met Antwerp on matchday one last month. Antwerp boss Mark van Bommel joked ahead of the game, which finished 5-0 in favour of the Catalans, that he would refuse to speak to opposite number – and former Barca teammate – Xavi about Vermeeren.

"I won't give him any information, because [Xavi] would buy him immediately," Van Bommel said.