FOOTBALL
By Eishna Rawat
Posted on June 26, 2026 5:00 pm | Updated on June 26, 2026 12:57 pm Kees Smit has been offered to Liverpool as AZ Alkmaar demand £52m this summer.
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Liverpool are back in the frame for one of Dutch football’s brightest young talents. The latest transfer news suggests Liverpool could be about to pull off yet another Newcastle hijack. Kees Smit, AZ Alkmaar’s 20-year-old midfielder, has been offered to several Premier League clubs, and Anfield is very much on the list.
Kees Smit is at the centre of a growing Premier League race
As reported by TEAMtalk, Kees Smit has been offered to several Premier League clubs this summer. Intermediaries have held talks with Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham as they look to find him a move to England. AZ are willing to sell but only if their £52m asking price is met in full.
Newcastle United had looked like the early frontrunners. Eddie Howe’s side have tracked the Dutch midfielder for some time and see him as a long-term replacement for Sandro Tonali, should the Italian leave St James’ Park. His ability to control tempo and win the ball back quickly makes him an ideal fit for the Magpies’ style.
But things have gone quiet at Newcastle. As reported by CaughtOffside, Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards revealed that Newcastle are “not currently active” in the chase. More tellingly, he urged fans to “keep an eye on Liverpool”, a clear hint that the Reds are the side to watch in this race.
The Reds eye yet another Newcastle target
As reported by TEAMtalk‘s Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have now been formally offered the chance to hijack the move for Kees Smit. It fits a pattern that has become all too familiar for Newcastle. The Reds triggered Victor Munoz’s release clause at Osasuna just weeks ago, ahead of the Magpies. Before that, they took Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in back-to-back windows.
For Liverpool, though, this is about more than gaining an advantage over a direct rival. New head coach Andoni Iraola wants energy and intensity in his midfield. Smit delivers both. He made 46 appearances for AZ this season, contributing five goals and ten assists, as reported by TheHardTackle. That kind of output across a full campaign is hard to ignore.
Kees Smit for AZ Alkmaar in 2025/26, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists Recoveries
Eredivisie 26 3 3 132
KNVB Cup 4 2 1 20
Conference League 16 0 5 43
As reported by CaughtOffside, Rio Ferdinand has also been vocal in his praise. The former England defender called Kees Smit “the real deal” and said the footage he had seen left him stunned. That sort of backing from a trusted voice tends to carry weight in recruitment circles.
Where does Kees Smit fit into Liverpool’s summer plans?
It is worth keeping things in context, though. The Reds’ main focus this window is a new winger. RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande is their top target right now. In terms of midfield options, names like Alex Scott, Adam Wharton, and Eduardo Camavinga are also being looked at. Kees Smit is part of a wider list, not the name at the top of it, at least not yet.
As reported by Caughtoffside, Newcastle’s hesitation comes down to doubt over whether the player even wants to move to St. James’ Park. That gives Liverpool a real opening. When they decide to move for a target, they tend to move fast. Their move for Victor Munoz earlier this summer was a case in point.
Other clubs are circling too. RB Leipzig, Stuttgart, and Monaco have all been keeping tabs. So the window to act won’t stay open forever. Whether it is the Reds or someone else who moves first, the battle for one of **football**‘s most sought-after young stars is only going to gather pace from here.
Read More: Eduardo Camavinga exit nears after Liverpool approach
Also Read: Eduardo Camavinga sparks transfer race with £52m tag
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Eishna Rawat
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