Second most valuable JPL professional
Last season, midfielder Arthur Vermeeren made his breakthrough with Belgian double winners Royal Antwerpen FC – and rose to become the second most valuable player in the Jupiler Pro League over the course of the season. It didn’t take long to speculate about interest from major international clubs – according to a new report, Borussia Dortmund are also said to have been interested in the 18-year-old.
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| A. Vermeeren |
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Belgian reporter Sacha Tavolieri explained on the YouTube show “Wait & See” that BVB was prepared to put 27 million euros on the table for Vermeeren last summer. The Black and Yellows spent more on new signings ten times in their history, including 30 million euros for Felix Nmecha (22) in the last transfer period, who occupies the same position as the Belgian U21 international. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (34; now Inter), who was an experienced player at the time but still young, cost 27.5 million euros in 2013.
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However, Antwerp refused because Vermeeren should stay for at least another year. His contract is valid until 2026, so a further increase in market value is not unlikely, especially since the right-footed player can also prove himself with “The Great Old” in the Champions League this season. As part of the 5-0 defeat at FC Barcelona at the club bosses’ usual dinner, Joan Laporta from the Catalans is said to have shown interest in Vermeeren without exploring any concrete transfer options. The Spanish champions were considered one of the first potential new clubs for the midfield talent after his breakthrough.
As part of the market value update of the Belgian upper house, TM area manager Bart Tamsyn had predicted that the player would probably stay for another year: “Vermeeren has developed into an indispensable part of Antwerp’s championship team in recent months and has consistently impressed with his rip-off style of play as well as outstanding anticipation and understanding of the game. The club and the player himself would like to work together beyond the summer, but it is certainly conceivable that a financially strong club would offer a sum that Antwerp cannot refuse. However, this would certainly be significantly higher than the new market value.”
Finally another BvB rumor that I really like.
Attached is the translation:
Of course, some clubs are mentioned as interested, but that is understandable given Vermeeren’s talent. That’s why it’s difficult to assess BvB’s chances, but at the same time he would certainly get more playing time at BvB than at Barcelona or Liverpool.
A few words about Vermeer:
In my opinion, Vermeeren has the following skills that stand out for an 18-year-old:
– very secure fit
– …
BVB ready to loan Vermeeren back to Antwerüen? TM users doubt
However, Tavolieri’s statement that Dortmund offered Antwerp to loan Vermeeren back to his youth club in 2023/24 raises doubts. This is now a common business model for financially strong Premier League clubs, but is not yet so common in the Bundesliga – especially with such sums. Given his talent, it is not unlikely that BVB also had Vermeeren on the list for the position alongside Nmecha and Enzo Le Fée (23). He would probably fit well into the transfer policy of the runner-up in recent years.
TM user “barcaberlin” in the BVB forum sees it similarly: “As if BVB had just spent 27 million on a player in a position where they immediately needed reinforcements and then parked the player somewhere else for another year. I don’t want to say that they weren’t interested in the player, but the situation with the loan back seems extremely unlikely to me when you see that we didn’t have enough money to address existing gaps in LV, RV, IV and OA …”
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