‘I guarantee you’ - Fabrizio Romano drops huge Newcastle United x Kees Smit transfer update
Newcastle United are keen on Dutch wonderkid Kees Smit.
AZ Alkmaar will reportedly not sell Kees Smit for less than €60million in a crushing blow to Newcastle United.
As recently as last month, several sources indicated a possible breakthrough at £25million. NewcastleWorld understands the Magpies are keeping tabs on the talented Dutch youngster.
Smit has enjoyed a breakout 2025 and is viewed as one of Europe’s top midfield prospects. Likened to Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne, the 19-year-old would bring a different profile to Newcastle’s engine room.
Fabrizio Romano transfer update
Italian sports journalist Fabrizio Romano has told Newcastle they have no chance of buying Smit for a cut-price fee. He is adamant that AZ have already turned down advances worth €60million, with Real Madrid also in the race.
“All the top clubs are interested,” Romano told his YouTube channel. “Real Madrid have been scouting the player, for sure. Clubs in England have been scouting the player, for sure. Top, top clubs in England.
“All the top clubs are scouting this boy. When you see, in the media, €45-50million for Kees Smit, what I can guarantee to you today is that AZ Alkmaar are absolutely not selling the player for €45-50million.
“Way more is needed to sell the player. Not in this January transfer window. Sources tell me that AZ have already received proposals for something around €60million and AZ said no.
“So, for them, the player is worth way more than the reported €45-50million. The price is higher. So, for Kees Smit, there is a lot of interest, several clubs keen. In Spain, Real Madrid. In England, all the top clubs. There is a lot of attention on this boy, he’s going to join a top, top, top, top club for sure. At this stage, it’s still not a deal for the January transfer window.”
‘I think so’ - Kees Smit
Smit was recently grilled on his future - and hinted at a possible transfer being around the corner. When asked if he will leave Alkmaar, the midfielder told De Telegraaf: “Yes, I think so. I think six months, or a year and a half. After that, I hope to have made a good move. I don’t find it (the speculation) difficult to deal with. I actually think it’s quite nice, and I’ve started thinking about it. Like: imagine if it actually happens?”
Ross Wilson on January transfer window
Speaking to supporters earlier this month, new Toon sporting director Ross Wilson confirmed there is money in the kitty if needed. He said: “The scouting work is always ongoing,” Wilson explained. “So, the guys are doing loads of work with that all the time. Can we spend in January? Yes. If we want to, we can.
“It’s obvious to everybody given the level of club spend in the summer that we’re not going to do that again in the winter window as well, for a variety of reasons. But if we want to spend, we can.
“Of course, we’ll be creative, of course we’ll be opportunistic as well. But probably the most important thing is that it would have to align with what the summer plan looks like, which is the bigger squad plan. All of those conversations are ongoing.
“We’ll have the ones about where Eddie sees the need in the squad, if at all. But for now, the conversations have been, ‘What have we got, what do we think about what we’ve got, where do we see this’, then let’s see how that fits into January and the next part of the conversation.”