Liverpool scout Kees Smit as £51.5m price tag adds uncertainty to January transfer plans.
Liverpool
Full name: Liverpool Football Club Nickname: The Reds Founded: 3 June 1892 Ground: Anfield Owner: Fenway Sports Group Chairman: Tom Werner Head coach: Andoni Iraola League: Premier League Season 2025-26: 5th rank Website: liverpoolfc.com Liverpool Football Club is in the… Read More about LIVERPOOL
Liverpool is looking at Kees Smit as their January plans start to take shape, as per the latest transfer news. The AZ Alkmaar midfielder is now drawing fresh attention after Reds scouts watched him in England, but a high price may make the deal hard.
Liverpool scouts watch Kees Smit
As reported by TEAMTALK, Liverpool sent scouts to observe Kees Smit during AZ Alkmaar’s Europa League game against Sunderland. The Dutch team lost 1-0 at the Stadium of Light, with Enzo Le Fee converting a late penalty, although Smit’s performance still drew attention. The 20-year-old was named in the starting XI and once again impressed with a notable performance. His impressive form has attracted attention from clubs throughout Europe, while he has been instrumental in AZ’s impressive opening to the Eredivisie campaign.
Smit earned his place in AZ’s senior football team in 2024. Since then, his progress has been watched closely by clubs in England. TEAMTALK’s report says Liverpool have admired him for a long time, with their latest visit showing that the interest remains active. The Reds were not alone. Tottenham, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Brighton and Crystal Palace also had scouts present.
Kees Smit’s stats for the 2025/26 season, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists Pass Accuracy(%)
Eredivisie 26 3 3 88.1
KNVB Cup 4 2 1 85.3
Conference League 10 0 4 86.9
£51.5m price could shape January plan
Liverpool’s latest scouting trip has added more weight to talk of a possible January move. The report says scouts linked with FSG were in attendance, suggesting the player is being watched at a serious level. However, there is no sign yet of a formal bid for the player. Smit is valued at around €60M. That price could now be a key part of Liverpool’s thinking before the winter window opens.
The scouting trip has put Smit into the wider transfer conversation around the Reds. The club’s own site noted that several Premier League sides watched the Netherlands midfielder against Sunderland, while noting that the report came from the media and does not represent the club’s official position. Liverpool are looking at midfield options for January as new head coach Andoni Iraola demands a high energy style.
Competition grows around Kees Smit
Liverpool were among a group of Premier League clubs watching Smit in the Europa League. Tottenham, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest were also named among the sides tracking the 20-year-old. Smit’s future was already a talking point before this latest scouting visit. A summer move had been anticipated, but he ultimately stayed put despite attracting interest from several European clubs.
That did not stop the interest. His performances have continued to bring more scouts to his games in Europe. For Liverpool, the main question now is whether the club wants to spend a reported £51.5M on a 20-year-old midfielder in January. For now, Smit remains focused on AZ, while the Reds continue to watch from a distance. A bid has not been confirmed, and there is still a lot that can change before January.
Author’s Opinion
Kees Smit is still a young player, so a big fee would bring pressure. Liverpool seem to be doing their homework before making any move. A January deal is far from certain, but the latest scouting visit shows real interest.
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