While the World Cup has everyone’s attention, Premier League scouting teams have their attention turned elsewhere. They’ll be watching the tournament, of course, but there are other matters to attend to.
In particular, according to a report from TEAMtalk, Newcastle United are ramping up in their efforts to sign AZ Alkmaar wonderkid Kees Smit. With Sandro Tonali sounding out an exit from St. James’ Park, the Toon have identified him as a potential replacement for the Italian international.
However, this is a transfer race with no shortage of entrants. One of them is Liverpool, who need to bolster their midfield ranks after a disappointing campaign. Furthermore, new boss Andoni Iraola is thought to be admirer of the player.
On top of this, teams such as Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Brentford, Brighton, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest are all thought to be in the mix.
Abroad, Real Madrid and Barcelona have both been tentatively linked with his signature, though neither are putting forth a serious effort to bring him on board. RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart are likewise in the picture, as are AS Monaco.
Back in January, Bayern Munich were also thought to be interested [via CF Bayern Insider], but their interest has seemingly cooled since them.
Kees Smit 2025/26 Eredivisie stats
Games Goals Assists Yellow Cards Red Cards
Kees Smit 26 3 3 5 0
Kees Smit’s 2025/26 stats aren’t enormously inspiring, but they don’t tell the full story by any stretch of the imagination. Often playing a central midfielder, looking to move the ball forward into the final third, his scope for notching up goal contributions was somewhat limited.
Furthermore, it is important to remember that Smit is only 20 years of age. He has plenty of scope to improve at this fledgling stage of his career.
He also put forth a decent showing in the Europa Conference League last season. He didn’t score any goal, but he did notch up four assists over the course of ten games. On top of this, he also found an extra assist during the qualification stage of the competition.
What would Kees Smit bring to his potential suitors?
A wonderful playmaker with a fantastic first touch, Kees Smit’s technical ability is excellent. Not only is he a very intelligent forward passer, he also excels when carrying the ball into the final third.
As we mentioned, he hasn’t really developed a goalscoring edge yet, but there is plenty of time for this to develop as he matures. He probably needs to work on the physical side of the game – he is a bit weak – but being 20 years of age, you can’t knock him for this too harshly. Furthermore, he does protect the ball well, so it isn’t too much of an issue.
On top of this, he’s also very skilled in terms of drawing fouls. His ability to shift the ball away from an onrushing defender is brilliant, allowing him to slow down the game and consolidate possession.
He is also very adaptable, having the skills to function in several roles. He is a natural central midfielder, but he can also play as a number ten or in the holding role.