{"id":629264,"date":"2026-09-19T05:30:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T05:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/629264\/"},"modified":"2026-09-19T05:30:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T05:30:16","slug":"liverpool-fsg-target-january-raid-for-star-arne-slot-wanted-at-anfield-as-40m-defender-becomes-a-problem-for-andoni-iraola","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/629264\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool: FSG target January raid for star Arne Slot wanted at Anfield as \u00a340m defender becomes \u2018a problem\u2019 for Andoni Iraola"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liverpool<\/a> are keeping tabs on Kees Smit with a view to a potential bid for the AZ Alkmaar midfielder in the January transfer window, TEAMtalk understands, as Michael Owen<\/a> explains why Milos Kerkez is a problem for Reds manager Andoni Iraola along with Jeremie Frimpong.<\/p>\n

Our transfer insider, Graeme Bailey, has reported that Liverpool are interested in a 2027 deal for Smit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sources have told us that Liverpool watched the Netherlands international midfielder in action this week.<\/p>\n

Smit turned out for AZ against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the Europa League on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Liverpool target AZ midfielder Kees Smit<\/p>\n

We understand that Liverpool had scouts in attendance at the match.<\/p>\n

Bailey has reported: \u201cTEAMtalk understands Liverpool are long-term admirers of Smit and their representatives were on Wearside to check on his progress during AZ\u2019s trip to Sunderland.\u201d<\/p>\n

AZ value Smit at \u20ac60million (\u00a351.5m, $69m), with Liverpool manager Iraola<\/a> keen on adding a new midfielder to his squad in the January transfer window.<\/p>\n

Bailey continued: \u201cLiverpool\u2019s interest is particularly significant given their long-standing appreciation of Smit, while the presence of so many other Premier League clubs at Sunderland demonstrates the competition that could emerge should AZ decide to consider offers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Reds are understood to be considering a mid-season swoop for a new midfielder, with Iraola concerned his current options cannot bring his high-intensity press demands to life.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed, the club are understood to have shortlisted four potential options ahead of the January window<\/a> \u2013 and it now seems that, given their scouts were there to check on Smit in person, that he too can be added to that list.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor now, Smit remains focused on his football with AZ, who are challenging near the top of the Eredivisie, but his performances are ensuring the spotlight on the talented midfielder continues to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is not the first time that Liverpool have taken a shine to Smit.<\/p>\n

Dutch outlet\u00a0Soccer News<\/a> reported back in November 2025 that then Liverpool manager Arne Slot wanted to sign Smit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Slot knew Smit from when he was a coach at AZ, with Liverpool said to be \u2018serious\u2019 about a bid for him at the time.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T MISS: Arsenal promise to Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha emerges as Mikel Arteta approves deal for Austrian midfielder<\/a><\/p>\n

Michael Owen critical of Liverpool left-back Milos Kerkez<\/p>\n

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has raised doubts on the future of Milos Kerkez at Anfield<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Hungary international left-back has been on the books of Liverpool since the summer of 2025, when he joined from Bournemouth for \u00a340million.<\/p>\n

Owen<\/a> believes that neither Kerkez<\/a> nor right-back Jeremie Frimpong is good enough for Liverpool.<\/p>\n

The pundit told TEAMtalk: \u201cThe full-back position is a real problem for Liverpool and it pains me to say that.<\/p>\n

\u201cA handful of years ago they had the best full-backs in the world, in Trent and Robbo, it was just unbelievable, the numbers they were posting and how well they were playing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a really strong position and all of a sudden it has been ripped up and it is a real problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do like Conor Bradley but his injury record is there for all to see and Frimpong doesn\u2019t appear to be a defender, he looks more an advanced player.<\/p>\n

\u201cTsimikas is not good enough to start every week and Kerkez has struggled since being there.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe looks nervous and lost in the red shirt and it looks heavy on him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the two full-backs are a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andoni Iraola raves about Liverpool defender Ronald Araujo<\/p>\n

Liverpool manager Iraola has been signing the praises of Ronald Araujo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Uruguayan defender joined Liverpool on loan from Barcelona in the summer transfer window.<\/p>\n

Iraola told Liverpool\u2019s official website about Araujo: \u201cI\u2019m very happy for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause the first time I talked to him \u2013 we knew each other because we played against each other but not personally \u2013 sometimes you talk to a player and you can feel straight away that everything was positive.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he needed this kind of change.<\/p>\n

\u201c[He] has come with humility, is coming from also a big club, experienced player.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need you right-back, we need you centre-back, if we need him in every other position, I think he\u2019s ready to do it.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhysically also, he\u2019s played probably more minutes than we expected, being so early in the season, and he\u2019s showing [he is] robust.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is still early but he\u2019s finishing the games in a good place physically \u2013 he\u2019s not cramping.<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially when you are a centre-back and you have to play wide as a right-back, the demands physically are different.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably [it] is more demanding and he\u2019s assuming these efforts well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like his spirit.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I\u2019m pushing him to learn a little bit the language because a good way for us to use his experience is if he could communicate better with the teammates and use all the experience that he has, but I suppose it will take some time.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ NEXT: Kylian Mbappe wowed by \u00a3120m winger Liverpool bid to sign as Mo Salah replacement \u2013 \u2018he has quality\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Liverpool are keeping tabs on Kees Smit with a view to a potential bid for the AZ Alkmaar…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":629265,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[912,36674,914,42,1101,27004,42828,43,1102,248161,40,38,41,39,915,9418],"class_list":["post-629264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-all-the-news","tag-andoni-iraola","tag-front-page","tag-headlines","tag-liverpool","tag-michael-owen","tag-milos-kerkez","tag-news","tag-premier-league","tag-ronald-araujo","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories","tag-transfer-news","tag-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/629264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=629264"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/629264\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/629265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=629264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=629264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=629264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}