Kees Smit transfer U-turn as Newcastle United chase £25m deal
Newcastle United may be forced to wait until the summer before trying to sign Kees Smit.
Newcastle United are reportedly expected to miss out on signing AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit in January.
Newcastle’s new sporting director Ross Wilson has held conversations with Eddie Howe regarding the playing squad, with the midfield understood to have been discussed as a key area to strengthen in the next two transfer windows.
The Magpies are strong on midfield numbers with Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Joelinton, Lewis Miley, Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock at their disposal, however are keen to add a different profile of player.
AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit wanted by Newcastle United
As reported by NewcastleWorld last month, Netherlands under-21s star Smit is on the radar of Newcastle and many other top European clubs.
The 19-year-old broke into Alkmaar’s first team last season and has been winning rave reviews back in his homeland with his classy, technical performances coming into Premier League consciousness when playing Crystal Palace in the UEFA Conference League last month.
Smit’s style has seen him compared to Barcelona midfielder Pedri, to which Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman replied: “The resemblance people see is in how he positions himself and his decision-making under pressure. But every player must form his own identity.”
But Newcastle United are reportedly expected to miss out
It is a deal Newcastle have considered trying to do in January but according to The Telegraph, AZ are now expected to keep hold of Smit until the end of the campaign.
The Dutch side currently value Smit at around £25m and were open to a winter sale, however believe they can best maximise his value in the summer instead.
Should Smit continue to perform, his price tag will naturally rise and, in turn, create more interest. There is also the possibility that the midfielder will be called up to the Netherlands’ World Cup squad.
Newcastle United transfer approach
Identifying top talent from other European leagues is something Wilson is keen to see more of at Newcastle after joining from Nottingham Forest in October.
Speaking last week, Wilson said: “Moving forward, we definitely want to expand our recruitment network. We’ve already done that, to be honest, in my time here. We’ve already expanded the recruitment network. We’ll continue to do so as we move forward.
“I think it’s also clear that we feel that it’s highly likely, not always, but highly likely that there’ll be more value outside of the Premier League than there is in it. It’s not always the case, but I think it would be a fair assumption to say that’s something we’ll be looking into.”