Arthur Vermeeren is asking ‘why would I want to leave’ Royal Antwerp as Premier League duo Newcastle and Manchester United eye the midfielder wonderkid, speaking to Het Laaste Nieuws.
It’s been quite the season for Vermeeren.
The technically-gifted 18-year-old only made his debut for the Jupiler League outfit back in August. His balletic footwork and eye for a pass have seen him labelled the ‘Belgian Andres Iniesta’, Vermeeren looking certain to play a key role as the Rote Duivels look to move away from that so-called Golden Generation.
According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle and Man United are eyeing the £20 million-rated teenager. But Vermeeren is clearly as mature off the pitch as he is on it, committing his immediate future to a Royal Antwerp side sitting third and dreaming of Champions League qualification.
Newcastle and Manchester United like Royal Antwerp’s Arthur Vermeeren
“Everything (has) changed faster than expected,” Vermeeren admits. “I play with the first-team at the weekend but, otherwise, I still go to school outside of football. I’m at home, staying by myself. I keep my feet on the ground and that’s the most important thing.
“I’m not at all concerned with those kinds of rumours. I also realise that I couldn’t be anywhere better at the moment than Antwerp. There is a lot of mutual trust, and I can continue to grow here.
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“Why would I want to leave already?”
Vermeeren has played 15 league games so far in 2022/23. Capped by Belgium at U18 level, the midfielder is one of a number of exciting youngsters on the radar of a Newcastle side who – under Dan Ashworth and Eddie Howe – are looking to lure some of the game’s best up-and-coming talent to St James’ Park.
“That boy has a lot of quality,” says Antwerp team-mate and former Tottenham Hotspur forward Vincent Janssen.
“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.”
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