Liverpool Eye £51.5m Kees Smit: January Swoop Eyed

Liverpool Set to Rival Chelsea for £51.5m Kees Smit in January

Liverpool are monitoring AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit ahead of a possible winter swoop, according to Teamtalk. The Reds watched the 20-year-old in the Europa League opener against Sunderland this week and could land him for around £51.5 million at the turn of the year.

Player: Kees Smit (AZ Alkmaar, 20 years old)
Fee: A package of around £51.5 million could be sufficient
When: January 2027 transfer window
Stage: Liverpool are keeping close tabs, no formal bid yet
Competition: Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa among admirers
Key context: Smit is viewed as a potential replacement for Curtis Jones, who joined Inter Milan permanently this summer

Liverpool’s summer recruitment was headlined by Bradley Barcola, Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz, but a central midfielder appears to be the next priority for the Merseyside giants. The Reds have identified Smit as a long-term target and were keeping a close eye on him during AZ’s Europa League opener against Sunderland this week.

The 20-year-old Dutchman has already registered two assists in six appearances across all competitions this campaign. He can operate in multiple midfield positions, including as a number six, and is known for his creativity and work rate in the centre of the park.

Deal Details

According to Teamtalk, Liverpool are keeping tabs on Smit ahead of a possible approach during the winter transfer window. A package of around £51.5 million could be sufficient to prise him away from AZ at the turn of the year.

No formal bid has been submitted, and the source describes Liverpool’s interest as monitoring rather than an advanced negotiation. AZ Alkmaar have not commented on the speculation.

Smit is far from a complete midfielder at this stage, but his versatility and huge ceiling explain why Liverpool have tracked him for a long period. He is generally a central or attacking midfielder but has also featured as a number six on several occasions for AZ.

Why Liverpool Want Kees Smit

Liverpool’s midfield rebuild has been extensive, but the departure of Curtis Jones to Inter Milan on a permanent basis this summer left a gap they did not fill. Smit is viewed as a potential replacement, offering the kind of mobility and technical security required in a pressing system. His ability to drop into a number-six role is particularly attractive because it would give Liverpool tactical flexibility without needing a specialist defensive midfielder on the pitch at all times.

The presence of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch means Smit would likely arrive as a rotational option rather than an automatic starter. That is a sensible way to develop a 20-year-old with immense potential while not placing unsustainable expectations on him. His showing against Sunderland in the Europa League gave Liverpool’s recruitment team another opportunity to assess how he handles senior opposition in a competitive European tie.

Chelsea’s interest may prove the biggest obstacle. The Blues failed to add a new midfielder after Enzo Fernandez’s exit on deadline day, and they could pose the biggest threat to Liverpool in the race to sign Smit. Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are also among his admirers, which means the £51.5 million fee could become a starting point rather than a ceiling if a bidding situation develops.

Talking points

Is £51.5 million a sensible price for a 20-year-old with six appearances and two assists this season, or are Liverpool paying for potential rather than proven output?
Should Liverpool prioritise a ready-made defensive midfielder instead of a rotational talent, given their existing options in Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch?
Would Chelsea be a better destination for Smit, where he could immediately slot into a midfield that lacked additions after Enzo Fernandez’s exit?
If Smit is happy to be a squad player, does that ambition match the expectations of a club paying over £50 million for him?

What happens next

Liverpool are expected to continue monitoring Smit’s performances for AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League and Eredivisie before deciding whether to formalise their interest when the January transfer window opens. The £51.5 million package is considered sufficient by Teamtalk, but Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are also in the picture. If Liverpool wait until the summer, competition for his signature could intensify.