Atletico Madrid reach verbal agreement to sign Barcelona target in €25 million+ deal

With Barcelona in the lookout for a defensive pivot for the summer transfer window, Royal Antwerp midfielder Arthur Vermeeren was one of the players being monitored.

The 18-year-old Belgian prospect had been on Barça’s radars since last year and the club had scouted him on multiple occasions.

The Catalans even got a very close look at Vermeeren when they clashed against Royal Antwerp in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League. The player’s name was discussed during meetings between the club officials at the time.

However, recent reports suggested that Vermeeren’s name was not at the top of Barcelona’s shortlist as the technical staff had some doubts about him.

Atletico Madrid reach verbal agreement for Vermeeren

Now, the option of signing Vermeeren seems to have been taken completely off the table for Barcelona as Atletico Madrid are all set to land the Belgian.

Indeed, as per the latest update from Fabrizio Romano, Atletico Madrid have reached a verbal agreement with Royal Antwerp to secure the services of Vermeeren in the ongoing transfer window.

The Rojiblancos were one among several suitors for the 18-year-old midfield prospect and had made a proposal worth €15 million for him last week.

However, with that getting knocked back, they sent in a new offer in excess of €25 million today, which has seemingly been accepted by the Belgian outfit.

As such, only final details remain to be sorted out before Vermeeren joins Atletico Madrid this month, reports Romano.

On his way to Atletico. (Photo by BRUNO FAHY/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

No shortage of alternatives

It would mean Barcelona will now have one name less on their shortlist to reinforce the pivot midfield position in the summer.

Other names like Joshua Kimmich, Amadou Onana, Martin Zubimendi, and Bruno Guimaraes, among others, have been linked but the financial situation would make a move for any of them difficult.

Real Betis’ Guido Rodriguez and Wilfred Ndidi of Leicester City, both of whom will be free agents in the summer, have also been linked.

So, it will be intriguing to see who Barcelona go after to strengthen the defensive midfield position come summer.