Arsenal are reportedly ready to rival Manchester United and Barcelona for the signature of Royal Antwerp teenager Arthur Vermeeren.
The 2005-born midfielder has progressed through the Antwerp youth academy since joining the club in 2018 and has made great strides since his promotion to the senior ranks in 2022.
Vermeeren broke into the starting XI just before the World Cup break and immediately became a regular starter for Antwerp, helping his side complete a Jupiler Pro League and Belgian Cup double last season.
The 18-year-old won his third major trophy in July as Antwerp beat KV Mechelen on penalties in the Belgian Super Cup, where Vermeeren scored from 12 yards in the shootout, while he has one goal and five assists to show from 15 games in the current campaign overall.
Prior to the international break, Vermeeren set up both of his side's goals in a 3-2 Champions League loss to Shakhtar Donetsk, before scoring one and setting up another in a 4-1 top-flight win over KAS Eupen.
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The 5ft 11in youngster is capable of playing as both a number six and number eight, and he earned his first call-up to the Belgian squad for October's internationals due to Leandro Trossard's withdrawal.
Vermeeren's notable exploits at such a young age have inevitably caught the eye of some of Europe's most elite clubs, with all of Man United, Barcelona and Liverpool said to be monitoring his progress.
Now, TEAMtalk claims that Arsenal have also shown an interest in the 18-year-old, while fellow Premier League clubs West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion are also in the picture.
The Gunners smashed their transfer record to make Declan Rice the most expensive British player of all time this summer, forking out £105m to bring the Englishman to the Emirates from West Ham.
Rice has seamlessly slotted into Mikel Arteta's system, usually as the deepest-lying midfielder, but the report adds that Arteta wants to unleash him in a more attacking role in the coming years.
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The possible arrival of Vermeeren would give Rice more licence to roam further forward, and Arsenal's track record of developing young players could give them the edge in the race for the Belgian starlet.
However, all of Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig - three more clubs who offer young talent a clear pathway into the first team - are also weighing up moves for Vermeeren, who would therefore provide Arsenal with stiff competition.
Vermeeren's current terms with Antwerp expire in the summer of 2026, but the report adds that interested parties may only be quoted £15m to sign the teenager, which could spark a heated battle for his services in 2024.
While Rice and Kai Havertz reinforced Arsenal's midfield ranks this summer following Granit Xhaka's exit, both of Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny are out of contract in 2024, and the former is thought to be on the radar of Barcelona.
Furthermore, Thomas Partey - who turns 31 next year - was pursued by teams in the Saudi Pro League this summer as well as Juventus, who could reignite their interest in January due to Paul Pogba's failed doping test and an investigation into alleged illegal betting by Nicolo Fagioli.
