Newcastle United Target AZ Alkmaar's Kees Smit Amid Transfer Battle
Newcastle United have moved aggressively in the battle for AZ Alkmaar prodigy Kees Smit, with the 20-year-old midfielder now one of the most coveted young players on the European market.
The Premier League club have intensified their pursuit in recent weeks, leaning on a long-standing admiration for a player they believe can anchor their midfield for years. Inside St James’ Park, Smit is viewed as a potential solution to a major problem: what happens if Sandro Tonali leaves?
Tonali’s future remains uncertain, with Tottenham Hotspur among the clubs circling. Newcastle’s recruitment team have prepared for that scenario. Their answer is clear. Smit.
They have tracked the Netherlands Under-21 international for an extended period and are convinced his technical quality, composure in tight areas and knack for dictating tempo fit perfectly with their long-term blueprint. In short, they see a modern controller, not just another body in midfield.
The price will not be gentle. AZ are expected to demand around €60m (£52m, $69m). That figure has not scared off Newcastle – and it has certainly not scared off the rest of Europe.
Premier League heavyweights circle
Newcastle are not alone. Far from it.
Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been sounded out over Smit’s availability, with each club already well aware of his potential. All three have monitored him over time, and interest has sharpened as it became clear he is open to a move this summer.
Liverpool, now under Andoni Iraola, are expected to bring in a new midfielder in this window, though their immediate priority lies out wide. The club are currently scanning a broad list of midfield targets, with Smit among the options rather than a singular obsession.
That suits the player just fine. Those close to Smit insist he is in no rush. No snap decisions. No panic.
He felt the sting of disappointment earlier in the summer when he missed out on Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad for the World Cup finals. Instead of sulking, he has treated that omission as a warning: his next club must be chosen with care, with a clear route to regular football.
So the door stays open. For Newcastle. For their rivals. For anyone who can offer minutes, responsibility and a genuine role, not just a squad number.
Mid-table projects and European giants join the chase
The interest stretches well beyond the traditional elite.
Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Brentford and Fulham have all made enquiries and remain firmly in the race. These clubs see opportunity. A 20-year-old with high-level experience, the right profile for a possession-based Premier League side, and the upside to become a dominant midfielder in the coming years.
They know they may not win a straight bidding war with the super-clubs. What they can offer is something different: a faster path to the starting XI and a central role in their projects.
The pull is not just English, either.
Real Madrid and Barcelona have both checked on Smit’s situation. Their interest underlines his standing across the continent, even if neither Spanish giant currently sits at the front of the queue. At this stage of his career, other destinations may make more sense in terms of playing time and development.
That is where RB Leipzig and Stuttgart come in. Both Bundesliga sides are watching closely, sensing a chance to position themselves as ideal stepping stones – high-level competition, strong development environments, realistic opportunities to start.
Monaco have also expressed interest, confident they can give Smit a platform in Ligue 1 to grow while competing regularly in European-chasing surroundings.
AZ fight to keep their midfield gem
There is one more option on the table, and AZ Alkmaar are clinging to it.
They have not given up hope of keeping Smit for at least another season. European football next term strengthens their position and their argument: stay one more year, develop in familiar surroundings, then move as an even more complete player.
From AZ’s perspective, another season together benefits both sides. For Smit, it offers continuity and guaranteed responsibility. For the club, it preserves their midfield heartbeat and protects his value.
Yet the noise grows louder.
Newcastle believe they have made a compelling case. They see Smit not as a luxury signing but as a potential cornerstone of their future midfield, especially if Tonali moves on. They can offer Premier League intensity, a clear tactical role and a club on an upward trajectory.
Across the league and across Europe, others will argue the same in their own way.
The bidding war is not just about money now. It is about trust, pathway and ambition. Smit knows it – and that is why he will choose carefully, not quickly.
