Arsenal have reportedly leapfrogged Barcelona in the race to sign Arthur Vermeeren and are now leading the hunt for the Royal Antwerp midfielder.

Vermeeren, 18, has attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs following his emergence onto the senior stage in Belgian.

The young midfielder helped Antwerp lift the Belgian top flight trophy last season and has impressed in their opening two matches of the Champions League group stages too.

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Barcelona have been interested in Vermeeren for a considerable amount of time as they search for a long-term replacement for the departed Sergio Busquets, who joined Lionel Messi at Inter Miami during the summer.

Oriol Romeu was signed from Girona but the Spaniard is 32 and is a stopgap option for the Blaugrana rather than a future solution.

However, Xavi’s side have been overtaken in the race for Vermeeren’s signature by Arsenal, according to Sport.

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90min had previously reported that Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham had contacted Antwerp regarding Vermeeren and the Gunners are now understood to be leading the way in the race to sign him.

Vermeeren has, however, been touted for a transfer to Camp Nou by former Barcelona and Arsenal star Marc Overmars, who is Antwerp’s current director of football. “I do not have doubts that Vermeeren can play for Barca,” he told FCBN.

What has been said about Vermeeren?

Royal Antwerp defender and former Tottenham Hotspur star Toby Alderweireld has praised his club team-mate for the impact he’s made since becoming part of the first-team squad.

“He arrived in the [Antwerp] team by force of circumstance,” Alderweireld said. “But since then he has learned very quickly. He reads the game very well, his potential is enormous. Have I seen this before? Rarely, I think.”

Vermeeren is currently on international duty with the Belgium senior team after he was called up following Leandro Trossard was forced to pull out due to injury.