Overview
- AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit fueled speculation by joking in an interview that he is totally willing to negotiate with Barcelona during a team trip to the city.
- Manchester United and Chelsea are among the clubs pursuing the Dutch playmaker, with reporting also linking Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint‑Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle United.
- AZ are preparing to demand a fee in the €60–80m range, a price that would challenge Dutch transfer records and reflects their strong bargaining position.
- Super-agent Jorge Mendes is reported to be involved in managing talks, a sign the negotiations could grow complex and pricey.
- Smit has logged about 45 games with five goals and 10 assists this season and delivered a goal and an assist in AZ’s KNVB Cup final win, which explains why top clubs view him as a tempo-setting midfielder; no deal has been agreed.