Manchester United want Arthur Vermeeren but Royal Antwerp boss Mark van Bommel seemingly isn’t expecting him to move on in January.
United will surely target more midfield additions for 2024.
Sofyan Amrabat hasn’t exactly dazzled since arriving on loan from Fiorentina and there are allegedly doubts about him inside Old Trafford.
Casemiro’s long-term future is far from secure and United may look to add another midfielder for Erik ten Hag to build around.
Royal Antwerp not expecting Manchester United target Arthur Vermeeren to leave
Royal Antwerp talent Arthur Vermeeren is believed to be one of United’s targets heading into 2024.
Catalan newspaper Sport reported in September that United have been leading the race to sign Vermeeren.
Ten Hag was believed to be driving the interest, but the links go way back to February.
The Daily Mail suggested that United were interested in Vermeeren having seen his potential over in Belgium.
Vermeeren is now earning comparisons to Kevin De Bruyne having already recorded five assists this season.
United may well want the 18-year-old in 2024 but a January deal seemingly isn’t in the pipeline.
Royal Antwerp boss Mark van Bommel has told Het Laatste Nieuws that he has ‘doubts’ that Vermeeren or anybody else in his squad would be sold even more a ‘large amount of money’.
Van Bommel added that Vermeeren has the talent to keep developing step by step in his career, similar to the rise of Jude Bellingham.
That is lofty praise but Van Bommel sees huge potential in Vermeeren, believing that he could shine at the European Championships next summer.
“I don’t expect any players to leave,” said Van Bommel. “We want to keep everyone on board. But if there is interest from the top of Europe in someone, then it becomes difficult to maintain. Although a large amount of money will have to be put down. And even then I have doubts.”
“He has made fantastic development in just over a year. And he continued to perform, even when all eyes were increasingly focused on him. We are constantly working to ensure that he continues to develop. He does that automatically, and that is precisely what talent is. He can continue to adapt to an ever higher level. This is also the case with Jude Bellingham. Step after step after step. He can still add here. But let’s not take that next big step for a while. He needs another club for that. Or maybe at the European Championships,” he added.
United could have their midfield of the future with Mainoo and Vermeeren
United already have one enormous talent in midfield with Kobbie Mainoo showing the potential to become an Old Trafford star.
Vermeeren has similar promise and the idea of seeing them team up together in United’s midfield for years to come sounds pretty exciting.
The pair are only teenagers, so signing Vermeeren with the idea of him partnering Mainoo would be a long-term approach.
Ten Hag may want more of an instant impact player but Vermeeren’s passing ability and control of the game over in Belgium means he could help United straight away.
We would suggest that United should offer Antwerp a cash deal in January with Vermeeren returning to Belgium on loan, if they really don’t want to lose him before the summer.
That would allow Vermeeren to keep developing with Antwerp whilst allowing United to secure him for years to come amid strong competition.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
