Arsenal are reportedly leading Barcelona in the race to sign talented Belgian teenager Athur Vermeeren.
The 18-year-old midfielder has won rave reviews in his homeland after breaking into the Royal Antwerp team last season.
Vermeeren is a defensive midfielder who has been compared with Declan Rice and the teenager could be set to join the England international in north London.
According to Sport, Arsenal have a strong interest in Vermeeren and could make a move to sign the youngester in January.
Barcelona are also in the market for a defensive midfielder after Sergio Busquets left the club last summer, with Oriol Romeu only seen as a short-term solution in that position.
Vermeeren, who made his international debut for Belgium against Austria last week, could be available for a fee of around €20 million (£17m) in January.
Tottenham are also understood to be tracking the midfielder and former Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld, who plays alongside the teenager at Antwerp, expects big things from the 18-year-old.
"He arrived in the team by force of circumstance, but since then he has learned very quickly," Alderweireld said recently.
“He reads the game very well, his potential is enormous. Have I seen this before? Rarely, I think."
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