Anthony Onifade

Sat 14 October 2023 13:10, UK

West Ham United have been linked with the talented services of Royal Antwerp midfielder Arthur Vermeeren and technical director Tim Steidten must be on high alert after his impressive Golden Boy award nomination.

Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reported on 15 September that the Hammers are in the hunt to sign the Belgian sensation in January but face stiff competition from the likes of Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco.

The Spanish news outlet shared via their website on 15 September that the Hammers had scouts watching Vermeeren during Antwerp’s clash with Gent on 7 January and have been monitoring his progress.

90Min also reported recently (October 12) that the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City have joined the race to sign the incredibly gifted teenager which means the Irons face a tough fight to secure his services.

And what a major coup it could well be for the East Londoners if they pull this one of, considering the elite clubs lying in wait to sign the 18-year-old midfielder wonder.

After sanctioning the big-money exit of Rice to Arsenal for all of around £100m, the Hammers will be desperate to find another burgeoning midfield talent lying in wait to become another household name at the London Stadium, either from within the academy or within some of Europe’s top footballing academies.

Antwerp have certainly unearthed a promising and potentially elite candidate for West Ham to consider and Vermeeren has undergone a steady upward trajectory over the last year or so, which has been further evidenced by his Golden Boy award nomination, shared by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano (13 October) on Friday.

Vermeeren’s nomination is certainly going to heighten the interest in his services over the next few months and it would be silly of West Ham United and Steidten to ignore the hype around the Belgian wonder.

The 5 foot 9 sensation, ranked highly within his team for his performances last term, 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).

He’s kicked off this campaign in a similar vein and was rewarded with his stunning progress over the last year with his 1st international cap for Belgium in their 3-2 win over Austria on Friday (13 October).

So far this season, he’s registered one goal and two assists, averaging 1.2 key passes, 73 touches per game and successfully completing 62% of his dribbles but his defensive contributions are equally as impressive as his qualities on the ball, averaging 1.5 interceptions, 1.8 tackles, 1.2 possessions won, 8.3 balls recovered and 1.3 clearances [SofaScore] marking him out as the complete midfielder already at 18.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig described the teen starlet as “one of the most exciting prospects in Belgium” back in February due to his impressive performances in the Pro League highlighting how highly thought of he is already within the continent.

This deal would align with a new directive at West Ham to invest in young talent for the future rather than spending heavily on players who will only spend two or three years with the club before they either move on or become less effective and given the burning desire to find a young prospect who could develop like Rice, Vermeeren certainly seems the perfect acquisition.

Certainly, the Hammers face a tough fight for his signature given the plethora of elite clubs vying for his services but West Ham United should count themselves as an elite too and have a great secret weapon in Steidten who has impressed remarkably since his appointment over the summer, completing marquee deals for Mohammed Kudus and Konstantinos Mavropanos.

Why not continue that trend and seal one of Europe’s most exciting and flawless midfield prospects in Vermeeren?

In other West Ham news, a journalist has revealed what he’s been told about the club’s plans in the January transfer window and an “alternate” role for one big-money London Stadium signing.