Barcelona will prioritise signing 18-year-old Royal Antwerp midfielder Arthur Vermeeren, a target for Manchester United, as the successor to Sergio Busquets.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Arthur Vermeeren is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The Catalan giants view the 18-year-old as the priority candidate to be the long-term successor to Sergio. The Royal Antwerp midfield sensation is also a target for Manchester United.
The Arthur Vermeeren Story
Arthur Vermeeren has become one of the most highly sought-after young midfielders in the world in the last six months. The Belgian wonderkid made his first-team debut for Royal Antwerp as a 17-year-old at the onset of the 2022/23 season. Since then, he has come leaps and bounds, becoming a mainstay in the middle of the park for his club.
The 18-year-old has also broken into his national team, making two appearances for Belgium. Meanwhile, he has turned out over 50 times for Royal Antwerp, chipping in with three goals and eight assists. Vermeeren’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs.
A Man in Demand
Premier League bigwigs, in particular, are keen on signing Arthur Vermeeren, with Manchester United recently laying the foundations to secure his services. Meanwhile, the teenage sensation is also a target for Barcelona, with the Blaugrana viewing him as a long-term successor to Sergio Busquets.
Barcelona lost Sergio Busquets at the end of the 2022/23 season, with the veteran midfielder moving to Inter Miami. They signed Oriol Romeu as the former captain’s replacement. But Romeu has struggled to stamp his authority at the club and might leave this summer. Vermeeren is thus a viable target, with Barcelona also alert to rival interest. Meanwhile, they are ready to open talks to sign him.
As for Manchester United, the Red Devils have seen Casemiro struggle this season, with age catching up to him. In addition, Sofyan Amrabat will unlikely complete a permanent move from Fiorentina in the summer. So, it behoves Manchester United to invest in a young holding midfielder. And Arthur Vermeeren is an option worth considering.
The opportunity to join Barcelona might be too difficult to turn down. That can put a spanner in the works for Barcelona, considering Vermeeren will not be an expensive option. So, it will be interesting to see what the future has in store for the 18-year-old.
