As transfer news comes, West Ham United may have already identified their next Declan Rice in Arthur Vermeeren.
West Ham United may have identified their next declan rice in Royal Antwerp midfielder Arthur Vermeeren, with a January move now imminent.
According to Mundo Deportivo (15 September), the Hammers are interested in signing the Belgian wonder in January but will face heavy competition from Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, and AS Monaco.
On 15 September, the Spanish news organization revealed on their website that the Hammers had scouts observing Vermeeren during Antwerp’s match against Gent on 7 January and have been studying his improvement.
On 15 September, the Spanish news organization revealed on their website that the Hammers had scouts observing Vermeeren during Antwerp’s match against Gent on 7 January and have been studying his improvement.
Barcelona is said to have been interested in bringing the 18-year-old to the Nou Camp since last season, when he helped his club win the league and cup double, but West Ham United could be preparing to make an audacious move for the European wonder.
And what a huge triumph it could be for the East Londoners if they pull this off, given the elite clubs vying for the 18-year-old midfielder wonder.
After sanctioning Rice’s big-money move to Arsenal for around £100 million, the Hammers will be desperate to find another burgeoning midfield talent waiting in the wings to become another household name at the London Stadium, either from within the academy or from some of Europe’s top footballing academies.
Antwerp have uncovered a good and perhaps exceptional option for West Ham to consider, and Vermeeren has been steadily improving over the last year or so, appearing in 26 Belgian Pro League games last season and has already started off this season.
The 5 foot 9 sensation, like Rice, ranked highly within his team for his performances last season, posting an average Sofascore rating of 7.05/10 while also ranking highly for interceptions per game (1.3), tackles per game (2.7), and big chances created (three), with stats similar to Rice’s, albeit at a different level of football.
Due to his remarkable exploits in the Pro League, football talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed the young sensation as “one of the most exciting prospects in Belgium” back in February, underlining how highly thought of he is already inside the continent.
Vermeeren already appears to be quite comfortable on the ball, with an 83% pass success rate last season and an average of 52.2 touches per game in the league.
