Liverpool join Arsenal in race to sign 18-year-old ‘next world star’

Liverpool have joined Arsenal in the race to sign Arthur Vermeeren, according to a report.

The 18-year-old has enjoyed a steep career trajectory over the past 12 months. A regular for last season’s Belgian champions Royal Antwerp despite his tender years, Vermeeren is already a senior Belgium international and destined for the very top.

Indeed, FootballTransfers analysed the youngster in November and it quickly became evident that Vermeeren has what it takes to become Belgium’s next world star. Such has been the teenager’s rise to prominence that he was given the captain’s armband in Antwerp’s Champions League clash with Porto at the beginning of November.

A defensive midfielder, Vermeeren is more than just a six who sits deep and breaks up play. The Belgian is integral to the build-up play of Mark van Bommel’s side and knows when to occupy which spaces and when to support the attack. His link-up play and ability to get the ball forward make him a quite complete player for his age.

Liverpool enter the race

Vermeeren has taken his game to another level this term and this has attracted high-profile attention. The 18-year-old has long since been said to be of interest to Arsenal and Barcelona, but now Liverpool have also joined the race to land his signature, claims Fichajes.

The Reds are in need of a holding midfielder after their overhaul in that department in the summer. Out of the four midfielders signed in the summer, only Wataru Endo is a natural six and even he was often utilised further forward at his previous club Stuttgart, where he was the heartbeat of his side.

Despite Liverpool doing well this term, the need for a proper defensive midfielder is evident. Vermeeren would tick many boxes and concerns about his age will be eased by the fact that he is already deemed captain’s material and a fixture with the Belgian Red Devils. Vermeeren is valued at €29 million by FootballTransfers’ Estimated Transfer Value (eTV) algorithm.