Chelsea are emerging as the frontrunners in the race for AZ Alkmaar’s highly-rated midfielder Kees Smit, who is also on Newcastle United’s radar.
The i Paper understands that the Blues are very keen on Smit, the 19-year-old Holland under-21 international, and are ready to rival fellow Premier League suitors Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester United for a player who is rated at around £25m.
There has been recent dialogue between Chelsea and Smit’s camp, although it’s unclear whether they will make a move in January, with the Blues expecting more of a quiet winter transfer window after revamping their squad in the close season.
Newcastle are pondering a mid-season move for Smit to add to Eddie Howe’s engine room options and the thinking at St James’ Park is that he may not be attainable at the end of the season.
Newcastle remain interested in Smit, who they have been aware of since his breakthrough season last year, but sources have appeared less optimistic about the chances of signing the midfielder in recent weeks despite Howe’s enthusiasm about him.
The Magpies have money to spend after selling Alexander Isak for £125m in the summer but are unlikely to push the button on incoming deals unless they fit the club’s long-term plans. Smit falls into that category, with director of football Ross Wilson keen to cut the age profile of the squad.
It would be a major coup to land a player of his potential but with Chelsea among those hovering, it may well depend on whether Newcastle can match their sales pitch.
Smit has been the driving force behind AZ’s excellent form this season, delivering another eye-catching performance as the Dutch side beat Kosovan outfit FC Drita in the Conference League this week.
AZ sit fifth in the Eredivisie and are renowned in recruitment circles for their work bringing through young players. But Smit is widely regarded as the “real deal” and the club are considering carefully how to proceed.
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One option is to resist offers and build more of a bidding war in the summer, which would see Smit stay in the Eredivise for the rest of the season. He has also been linked with Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Offers over £30m from Premier League clubs may force AZ to make a decision on the future of a player who has been likened to Pedri by his national team manager Ronald Koeman.
“I have to be careful what I say, but I coached Pedri at Barcelona and I see things in Kees Smit that remind me of him,” Koeman said in November.
“The changes of direction, the use of both feet, the vision of the game — these are things I noticed in Pedri at the time.”
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