Arthur Vermeeren has ‘the world at his feet’ as Newcastle United eye the £20 million-rated Royal Antwerp wonderkid, former Premier League striker Vincent Janssen tells Eleven Sports.
With so many of Belgium’s longest-serving stars winding down – the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ becoming an ‘Olden Generation’ – the emergence of talents such as Vermeeren could hardly have been better timed.
Despite only turning 18 this month, the teenager is one of this season’s breakthrough stars in the Jupiler League. Former Rote Duivels star believes Vermeeren will be a fixture of the national team for the next decade.
His balletic footwork and cultured passing, meanwhile, have led some to label him ‘the Belgian Iniesta’.
“That boy has a lot of quality,” says Janssen, the former Tottenham Hotspur forward who now plays alongside Vermeeren in Antwerp.
“Enough is being said about him these days.’Wo For me, he is just a very big upcoming talent. The boy runs for everything and he also tackles. Last week, he even picked up a yellow card, and I thought that was nice. That hard work must come in.
“As I say, that boy has the world at his feet.”
Is Newcastle target Arthur Vermeeren the new Andres Iniesta?
Vermeeren, born in February 2005, could already cost around £20 million (Daily Mail). Newcastle and Manchester United are just two of the clubs keeping a very close eye on his development, with Vermeeren honing his talents under the former Dutch stalwart Mark van Bommel.
“All the compliments are justified,” Antwerp goalkeeper Jean Butez tells RTBF. “He has pretty incredible calmness and maturity. He still has to learn how to be effective in the important moments of the match. But, seeing him on a daily basis, he’s a great talent.
“Belgium are lucky to have this kind of talent.”
Vermeeren, who represents his country at U17 level, has featured in 12 top flight games already this season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
