Newcastle Pursue AZ Alkmaar Star Kees Smit Amid Competition
Newcastle United have moved aggressively in the chase for AZ Alkmaar prodigy Kees Smit, as half of Europe circles and the 20-year-old makes it clear he is ready to leave this summer.
The midfielder, one of the standout young talents in Dutch football, has been on Newcastle’s radar for a long time. In recent weeks, that interest has hardened into something more serious. Recruitment staff on Tyneside have stepped up their work, convinced that Smit’s technical polish, composure in possession and knack for controlling the rhythm of games fit perfectly with their long-term blueprint.
There is a clear context here. Sandro Tonali’s future at St James’ Park is shrouded in uncertainty, with Tottenham among the clubs monitoring the Italy international. Newcastle view Smit as a player who could eventually step into that void, not as a like-for-like replacement, but as a new fulcrum in a reshaped midfield.
AZ, though, know exactly what they have on their hands. The Eredivisie club are expected to demand around €60m (£52m, $69m) for their prize asset, a fee that has not scared off the elite. It has simply sharpened the field.
Premier League heavyweights join the hunt
Newcastle are not alone. Far from it.
Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been sounded out over Smit’s availability. All three have tracked the Netherlands Under-21 international for some time and see a modern, press-resistant midfielder with the ceiling to become a mainstay at the top level.
Liverpool, now under the command of Andoni Iraola, are widely expected to bring in at least one midfielder during this window. Their immediate focus leans more towards adding a winger, and they are weighing several midfield options rather than moving decisively for just one name. Smit sits within that broader shortlist rather than at the centre of it for now.
Crucially, the player is not in a rush. Those close to Smit stress that he will not be bounced into a quick decision, no matter how intense the noise becomes.
That resolve hardened earlier this summer. Left out of Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad for the World Cup finals, Smit felt the sting of disappointment. Instead of chasing the first big move that came his way, the setback has underlined his belief that the next step must be carefully chosen, with a clear route to regular football.
That stance keeps the door open. For a lot of clubs.
Mid-table projects, European giants and the Bundesliga pull
Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Brentford and Fulham have all lodged enquiries. None of them are treating this as a speculative punt. Each believes Smit’s age profile, upside and tactical intelligence give him the tools to grow into a major Premier League midfielder over the next few years.
The interest stretches well beyond England.
Real Madrid and Barcelona have both carried out checks on Smit’s situation. Their scouts know the file, know the numbers, know the potential. At this stage, though, neither Spanish giant is camped at the front of the queue. The feeling in some quarters is that Smit’s development might be better served by a club where he can play heavy minutes immediately rather than fight for scraps behind established stars.
That is where the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 come into play. RB Leipzig and Stuttgart are tracking developments closely, sensing an opportunity if the Premier League’s bidding turns chaotic. Monaco, too, have expressed interest, confident they can offer a platform of regular high-level football and European exposure without the suffocating glare of a superclub.
Those clubs see a familiar path: take a technically gifted Dutch midfielder, give him responsibility early, then watch his value soar.
AZ’s last stand and Newcastle’s pitch
Amid all the noise, there remains a very real third option: Smit stays put.
AZ Alkmaar have not given up hope of keeping their midfield leader for at least one more season. European football next term strengthens their position, and there is a belief within the club that another year in familiar surroundings could be the best outcome for everyone. One more campaign as the heartbeat of AZ’s midfield, then a move as a more complete, battle-hardened player.
For now, though, the battle is live.
Newcastle have made their intentions clear. They see Smit not as a luxury signing, but as a potential cornerstone of the next iteration of their midfield, especially if Tonali’s situation ends in a departure. The pitch from Tyneside is built around responsibility, growth and a central role in a project still on the rise.
Across the Premier League and the continent, rival plans are being drawn up, each offering a different version of the same promise: minutes, development, and a springboard to the very top.
Smit, by all accounts, will choose carefully. The money will be there. The offers will be there. The real question is which club can convince him that their midfield is his stage, not just another stop on the carousel.
