Fabrizio Romano says £21m Spurs target now joining Champions League club instead
Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Belgian prodigy Arthur Vermeeren in recent weeks.
However, it looks as though Tottenham have sadly missed out on the Royal Antwerp midfielder.
Back in October, 90Min reported that Spurs were one of several big Premier Leagues
As well as Tottenham, the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus have reportedly been in pursuit.
Luckily for Spurs, Vermeeren doesn’t seem to be going to their north London rivals, or indeed any other Premier League club.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Atletico Madrid are in the process of getting a deal for the 18-year-old over the line.
The transfer insider claimed on X that the Champions League outfit has now “reached verbal agreement with Antwerp to sign Belgian top talent Arthur Vermeeren”.
“After initial €15m (£13m) package offered as revealed last week… bid in excess of €25m (£21m) sent today. Final details then Vermeeren will join Atliti now, January.”
🚨⚪️🔴 Atlético Madrid have reached verbal agreement with Antwerp to sign Belgian top talent Arthur Vermeeren!
After initial €15m package offered as revealed last week…
…bid in excess of €25m sent today.
Final details then Vermeeren will join Atléti now, January. 🇧🇪
⏳⌛️ pic.twitter.com/IUdEWJmb6D
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 23, 2024
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Tottenham set to miss out on Arthur Vermeeren
Well, this is certainly mixed news for Spurs. Although they’ve all-but missed out on Arthur Vermeeren, at least it doesn’t look as though he’s going to a Premier League rival.
Vermeeren is one of the most highly sought after youngsters in world football as present, as evidenced by how many top clubs have reportedly been after him.
“This guy is special,” Graeme Bailey recently said on the Talking Transfers podcast.
“Antwerp have a little superstar on their hands here in Arthur Vermeeren. He really is, from what I’m being told speaking to scouts, they think he’s special.
“Our understanding is that Man City, Arsenal and Tottenham have all enquired about him. So have Bayern Munich, Dortmund and Juventus, Barcelona as well who looked in the summer at him.”
Tottenham legend Toby Alderweireld, the captain of Antwerp, has also spoken very highly about the reported Spurs target.
He said a year ago, as per The Sun: “He arrived in the team by force of circumstance, but since then he has learned very quickly.
“He reads the game very well, his potential is enormous. Have I seen this before? Rarely, I think.”
