![\"Will](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Kees-Smit-Liverpool-Premier-League-Fabrizio-Romano.jpg\")
(Photo by Richard Pelham\/Getty Images)<\/p>\nFabrizio Romano reports that alleged Liverpool transfer target Kees Smit will move clubs in the summer transfer window at the earliest.<\/p>\n
The AZ Alkmaar star is understood to be a highly-coveted talent, with the likes of Real Madrid and other Premier League clubs keeping close watch.<\/p>\n
The 19-year-old has over two years remaining on a contract set to expire in the summer of 2028.<\/p>\n
Kees Smit will move in the summer transfer window(Photo by Richard Pelham\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
With things heating up at this early stage, it seems a matter of inevitability that Smit will be trading clubs in the summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI keep mentioning that name to you as one of the big names we\u2019ll have for 2026 on the market \u2013 summer more likely than January,\u201d\u00a0the Italian journalist spoke on his eponymous YouTube channel.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s true that Jorge Mendes is taking care of this. Since December, Mendes is working to coordinate the future of Kees Smit. There are conversations ongoing.<\/p>\n
\u201cNewcastle wanted to bring the player in January and were prepared to pay big money. But at the moment, nothing is advanced yet on the player\u2019s side.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
However, all interested parties have been advised that the Dutchman is likely to set them back north of \u00a352m.<\/p>\n
Premier League clubs and Real Madrid are interested<\/p>\n
That won\u2019t necessarily be a problem, of course, for the scale of clubs linked with the teenager\u2019s services.<\/p>\n
Real Madrid, who certainly have a penchant for stockpiling top, young European talent, will be in the mix.<\/p>\n
Whilst Liverpool weren\u2019t expressly mentioned in Fabrizio Romano\u2019s latest report, prior reporting on Kees Smit<\/a> would suggest the midfielder is at least on the Reds\u2019 radar.<\/p>\n \u201cAZ Alkmaar want more than the reported \u20ac45m-50m [\u00a339m-43.4m]. In my opinion, the transfer fee will be more than \u20ac60m [\u00a352m] for Smit,\u201d\u00a0the reliable reporter went on to add.<\/p>\n \u201cGet ready, because Real Madrid are following the player, because top Premier League clubs are following the player.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s going to be a crazy battle for this boy. And the man coordinating this battle is Jorge Mendes, as reported today in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n \u201cFor sure there are talks taking place. I expect this deal to happen in the summer transfer window. I expect big clubs, from the Premier League and Real Madrid, to attack the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n Why should Liverpool be interested in Smit? As one of the most highly-rated talents in Europe, Liverpool should at least have an eye on the situation by default.<\/p>\n Whilst it\u2019s expected that both Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai will put pen to paper on new contracts<\/a>, Alexis Mac Allister would appear to be the one Liverpool midfielder with the most question marks.<\/p>\n The Merseysiders have already begun contract talks with the trio, and rightly so given that the Argentine\u2019s contract, for instance, expires in just over two years.<\/p>\n Regardless, a player of Smit\u2019s quality would further bolster the club\u2019s depth and quality in midfield \u2013 especially in the event of any unfortunate departures.<\/p>\n Kees Smit stats 0.21 xA 89.2% successful passes 1.72 chances created 0.96 successful dribbles 5.78 recoveries 0.89 possession won in final third * Kees Smit stats per 90 in the Eredivisie in the 2025\/26 season (Fotmob<\/a>)<\/p>\n Add to that his positional versatility and Arne Slot\u2019s reported admiration of the youngster, and it\u2019s not too hard to piece together the possibility of a potential move down the line.<\/p>\n![\"Kees](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Kees-Smit-Az-Alkmaar-Liverpool-Premier-League.jpg\")
(Photo by Richard Pelham\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\nPercentiles<\/p>\n
\n80th percentile<\/p>\n
\n88th percentile<\/p>\n
\n85th percentile<\/p>\n
\n81st percentile<\/p>\n
\n74th percentile<\/p>\n
\n87th percentile<\/p>\n