Newcastle Leads €60m Race for AZ Prodigy Kees Smit

Newcastle United have moved aggressively to the front of the queue for AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit, as the chase for one of Dutch football’s most coveted young talents explodes across Europe.

The 20-year-old has made it clear he is open to a move this summer. That single shift has lit up recruitment departments from Tyneside to Turin – but right now, it is Newcastle who are making the most noise.

Newcastle’s Tonali question – and Smit’s answer

Inside St James’ Park, Smit is viewed as a potential solution to a looming problem.

Sandro Tonali’s future remains uncertain, with Tottenham among the clubs circling the Italy international. If he goes, Newcastle believe Smit can step straight into the void. Not as a like-for-like copy, but as a modern controller: technically sharp, calm under pressure, and capable of dictating the rhythm of games in a way their recruitment staff have admired for a long time.

Newcastle have tracked him for an extended period, sending scouts back repeatedly as his influence at AZ has grown. The verdict has stayed the same: high technical quality, smart in possession, and mature enough to be a long-term pillar of their midfield rebuild.

That conviction has now turned into action. In recent weeks, Newcastle have stepped up their pursuit, making clear to Smit’s camp that he is not just another name on a list, but central to their planning.

There is a catch. AZ know exactly what they have on their hands.

The Dutch club are expected to demand around €60m (£52m, $69m) to even consider a sale, a price tag that has not scared off the Premier League’s elite.

Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool all in the frame

Newcastle are not alone. Far from it.

Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been contacted regarding Smit’s availability, with all three long-term admirers of the Netherlands Under-21 international.

At Liverpool, the need for a new midfielder this summer is clear under new boss Andoni Iraola. The club are actively assessing a wide range of options in the middle of the pitch, even as their immediate priority leans towards adding a winger. Smit sits in that broader pool of candidates: a player they know, like, and are keeping firmly in view.

Tottenham and Chelsea, both in the midst of reshaping their squads, see the same thing Newcastle do – age, upside and a profile that fits the Premier League’s growing obsession with technically gifted, press-resistant midfielders.

Yet Smit is in no hurry.

Those close to the player insist he will not rush a decision. He wants clarity, not chaos. The setback of missing out on Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad for the World Cup finals earlier this summer has sharpened his thinking, not dulled it. If anything, it has hardened his belief that his next step must be the right one, not just the richest or the quickest.

That stance keeps the door wide open.

Mid-table pack sense an opening

Beneath the headline names, a second wave of Premier League clubs has also moved.

Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Brentford and Fulham have all made enquiries. None of them can match the global weight of Real Madrid or Barcelona, but they can sell something different: minutes, responsibility, a clear route to becoming a central figure rather than a rotation piece.

Each of those clubs believes Smit’s blend of age, ceiling and composure could turn him into a major Premier League midfielder over the next few years. For a 20-year-old who wants to play, not just pose in a new shirt, that argument carries weight.

And this is not just an English tug-of-war.

Europe’s giants watch, but others move

Real Madrid and Barcelona have both checked on Smit’s situation. Their interest is real, their position less so. At this stage, neither Spanish giant sits at the front of the queue.

The more serious threat to the Premier League may come from elsewhere on the continent.

RB Leipzig and Stuttgart are monitoring developments closely, while Monaco have also expressed concrete interest. Those clubs believe they can offer a sweet spot: regular top-level football, strong development environments, and less of the immediate scrutiny that comes with a blockbuster Premier League move.

For a player at Smit’s stage, that kind of platform has obvious appeal. Grow quietly, then explode.

AZ’s last stand

There is still one outcome that cannot be dismissed.

AZ Alkmaar have not given up hope of keeping their midfield jewel for at least one more season. European football next term strengthens their hand and their argument. Another year in familiar surroundings, in a team built around him, could serve both club and player.

From AZ’s perspective, that extra season could polish Smit further and, if he continues on his current trajectory, only increase his value. From Smit’s side, it would mean guaranteed minutes and a stable environment in a crucial development year.

The temptation to stay, just a little longer, is very real.

Tyneside’s pitch

For now, though, the battle is raging, and Newcastle are pushing hard to make their case.

They see Smit not as a luxury signing, but as a cornerstone – particularly if Tonali departs. The message from Tyneside is clear: come here, and you will be central to what we are building, not just another name on a star-studded teamsheet.

Across the Premier League and Europe, rivals are preparing their own pitches, each with a different promise: instant trophies, guaranteed starts, patient development.

Smit’s choice will not just define his next move. It may shape the midfield of whichever club wins this race for the next decade.