Liverpool Intensify Scouting Of Kees Smit Ahead Of January Window

Senior scouts linked to Fenway Sports Group watched the 20-year-old in a Europa League match, signalling he could be judged for a midfield role that meets Andoni Iraola's high‑intensity pressing demands.

Overview

Club representatives were present to watch AZ Alkmaar play in the Europa League, with reporting saying senior/FSG-connected scouts specifically monitored Kees Smit.
Smit is a 20-year-old technical and versatile midfielder who has broken into AZ’s first team since 2024 and produced an eye-catching display in the match watched by scouts.
Sources attach an approximate valuation of €60m (about £51.5m) to Smit, a figure that would make him a costly but market‑rate option for a top young midfielder.
Multiple Premier League clubs were also reported to have scouted the same game, creating a competitive environment that could push Liverpool to act or raise the price.
No formal bid has been reported and any January move remains contingent on Liverpool’s midseason assessment of midfield needs, Smit’s form, and the wider transfer market.