{"id":298138,"date":"2023-12-15T20:43:29","date_gmt":"2023-12-15T20:43:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=298138"},"modified":"2023-12-15T20:43:29","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T20:43:29","slug":"arsenal-and-tottenham-scout-barcelona-game-as-spicy-transfer-fight-awaits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/arsenal-and-tottenham-scout-barcelona-game-as-spicy-transfer-fight-awaits\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal and Tottenham &#8216;scout&#8217; Barcelona game as spicy transfer fight awaits"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/Arsenal-Tottenham-Arthur-Vermeeren-5117653.jpg?r=1702652933412\"><\/p>\n<p>Arsenal and Tottenham reportedly sent scouts to watch Royal Antwerp starlet Arthur Vermeeren play against Barcelona in midweek. Premier League talent-spotters would have been delighted with what they saw as the teenager put the Spanish giants to the sword in the Champions League.<\/p>\n<p>The Belgian European minnows defeated Barca 3-2 thanks to some late drama. Barca equalised in the 92nd minute, only for the 17-year-old Antwerp forward George Ilenikhena to win the game deep into added time.<\/p>\n<p>Antwerp\u2019s young stars impressed but there was one man who scouts were specifically intrigued by. Belgium midfielder Vermeeren has been attracting interest from Europe\u2019s biggest clubs over the past year.<\/p>\n<p>The 18-year-old opened the scoring in the victory against Barca and performed well on a historic night for his club. Before the reverse fixture in Spain in September, Antwerp boss Mark van Bommel joked that he would refuse to speak about Vermeeren with Barca boss Xavi as the Dutchman feared his counterpart would \u201cbuy him immediately\u201d.<\/p>\n<p> <strong> READ MORE: <\/strong> <strong>Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta breaks silence after avoiding FA ban over VAR comments[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/5117658.jpg?r=1702652933491\"><\/p>\n<p>According to 90min, Barca will have strong competition for Vermeeren\u2019s signature. It is reported that Arsenal and Spurs both had scouts in attendance to run the rule over the player\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n<p>Vermeeren\u2019s talent is no secret. He has already been capped twice by Belgium at international level and has been compared with Xavi and fellow Barca icon Andres Iniesta.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I do not have doubts that Vermeeren can play for Barca,\u201d former winger Marc Overmars said earlier this season. \u201cWhen I played there, you could see the likes of Xavi and Iniesta were developing. And now you can see here with Vermeeren, he has the same profile as Xavi and Iniesta.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manchester City, Juventus and Bayern Munich also harbour interest in Vermeeren, it is reported. It is unclear if Arsenal and Tottenham will make an official bid for the talented technician during the January transfer window.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li> <svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"> <g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_1078_5986)\"> <\/path> <\/path> <\/g> <defs> <clippath> <rect width=\"23.4329\" height=\"23.4329\" fill=\"white\" transform=\"translate(0 0.134262)\"><\/rect> <\/clippath> <\/defs> <\/svg> Support fearless journalism<\/li>\n<li> <svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"> <g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_1078_5986)\"> <\/path> <\/path> <\/g> <defs> <clippath> <rect width=\"23.4329\" height=\"23.4329\" fill=\"white\" transform=\"translate(0 0.134262)\"><\/rect> <\/clippath> <\/defs> <\/svg> Read The Daily Express online, advert free<\/li>\n<li> <svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"> <g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_1078_5986)\"> <\/path> <\/path> <\/g> <defs> <clippath> <rect width=\"23.4329\" height=\"23.4329\" fill=\"white\" transform=\"translate(0 0.134262)\"><\/rect> <\/clippath> <\/defs> <\/svg> Get super-fast page loading<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/logo\/logo-premium-subscription.png\"><\/p>\n<p> <strong> DON&#8217;T MISS&#8230; <\/strong> <br \/> <strong>Man Utd surprise target, Arsenal offered swap deal, Chelsea mass exodus[UPDATES] <\/strong> <br \/> <strong>Arsenal have former striker Alexandre Lacazette to thank for \u00a334m transfer boost[TRANSFERS] <\/strong> <br \/> <strong>Arsenal close in on \u00a3100m target Guardiola &#8216;sent video to Home Office&#8217; about[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/5117669.jpg?r=1702652933556\"><\/p>\n<p>Both north London clubs are expected to be busy in the January transfer window. Arsenal could build on a huge summer spending spree to ensure they win a first Premier League title in two decades.<\/p>\n<p>The Gunners spent nearly \u00a3200m on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber during the previous window. A forward and a midfielder &#8211; with Vermeeren eyed &#8211; are likely to be high on Mikel Arteta\u2019s list of priorities.<\/p>\n<p>Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou will want to strengthen in defence. Micky van de Ven will remain absent until well into the new year with a serious hamstring injury.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.express.co.uk\/sport\/football\/1846069\/Arsenal-Tottenham-Barcelona-transfer-Vermeeren\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Arsenal and Tottenham reportedly sent scouts to watch Royal Antwerp starlet Arthur Vermeeren play against Barcelona in midweek. Premier League talent-spotters would have been delighted <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/arsenal-and-tottenham-scout-barcelona-game-as-spicy-transfer-fight-awaits\/\" title=\"Arsenal and Tottenham &#8216;scout&#8217; Barcelona game as spicy transfer fight awaits\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":298137,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Arsenal and Tottenham &#039;scout&#039; Barcelona game as spicy transfer fight awaits - Sportstoft<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/arsenal-and-tottenham-scout-barcelona-game-as-spicy-transfer-fight-awaits\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Arsenal and Tottenham &#039;scout&#039; Barcelona game as spicy transfer fight awaits - Sportstoft\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Arsenal and Tottenham reportedly sent scouts to watch Royal Antwerp starlet Arthur Vermeeren play against Barcelona in midweek. 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