Southampton are reportedly interested in Anderlecht youngster Yari Verschaeren.
According to CalcioMercato, the 18-year-old is being eyed up by the Saints after exploding onto the scene in Belgium over the past few months that has seen Verschaeren turn heads in his native homeland.
Already valued at £13.5m on Transfermarkt despite playing just 28 first-team appearances for the Belgian giants, Verschaeren has made quite a name for himself ever since breaking into the Anderlecht starting XI last season, where the teenage attacker has scored twice and assisted four as numbers from Transfermarkt show.
Indeed, the winger’s stock rose even higher over the summer during the U-21 EUROs as Verschaeren’s wonder goal against Italy made the then 17-year-old the youngest player ever to score in the competition’s history as reported by One Football.
With Verschaeren being dynamic, a player who thrives out on the wing, and Belgian, similarities between the youngster and Real Madrid star Eden Hazard have already been chalked up by the likes of Yannick Bolasie, who played alongside the teenager briefly last season.
The Everton winger said to Het Nieuwsblad via Inside Futbol: “I really love Yari Verschaeren. When I saw him in the first days, I thought, ‘who’s this player? Is that the brother of Eden Hazard?’ To tease him I called Eden! Eden!”
With Ralph Hasenhuttl managing the likes of RB Leipzig, a club renowned for their emphasis on signing young players and integrating them into the first-team, there is reason to believe that Verschaeren could be a realistic signing for the Saints if they can jump to the front of the queue for the youngster.
Whilst no other sides have been reportedly interested in Verschaeren, it won’t take long before this hidden gem in the Belgian Jupiler League is uncovered, and for Southampton, they should seemingly act fast to snap up one of the most promising names in one of the top footballing nations in Europe.
