Yari Verschaeren, at this stage, is used to such comparisons.
A couple of years ago, when bursting onto the scene at Anderlecht, the silky attacking midfielder was frequently described as the second coming of Eden Hazard. Now, after blossoming as a string-pulling central midfielder, it’s another Real Madrid player Verschaeren is being likened to.
“He’s incredible. To me, Yari is a bit like Luka Modric,” Anderlecht coach Brian Riemer told Voetbal Primeur after Verschaeren scored in the 5-1 UEFA Conference League hammering of Ludogorets at Lotto Park.
“Such a strong player technically, but also able to work a lot for the team. He always looks fresh, even at the end of a very tough game. I’m very happy for him.”
Is one-time Southampton target Yari Verschaeren the next Luka Modric?
Southampton’s recent transfer windows have been marked arguably not by those they did sign but by those they missed out on. It seems unlikely that the Saints would be bottom of the Premier League table – Ruben Selles taking charge after the sackings of Nathan Jones and Ralph Hasenhuttl – had Cody Gakpo and/or Goncalo Ramos signed on the dotted line last summer.
“We tried very hard, we were very close. We had at least two very high-quality candidates (almost through the door),” chairman Henrik Kraft tells The Athletic; the regret in his voice palpable.
“They agreed personal terms. They were both playing in Champions League qualifiers, which pushed us very late in the window.
“For various reasons, they just didn’t happen. Then there was very little time to do anything else when that became clear.”
Maintain his current rate of progress and Verschaeren’s name may soon be uttered with similar wistfulness.
Southampton were reportedly ready to pay around £13 million for the seven-time Belgium international during the Hasenhuttl era.
And while the Saints could still renew their interest, there is a feeling that – like with Gakpo, Ramos and Darwin Nunez before them – Verschaeren may have moved beyond the reach of a club mired in the Premier League’s relegation zone.
“My hope is for Yari to win the Golden Shoe (Belgium’s Player of the Year) one day,” smiles Anderlecht team-mate Libor Refaelov (L’Avenir)
“I really believe he can achieve that.”
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