Reports Put Liverpool and Arsenal in Front for AZ Midfielder Kees Smit

Overview

• Multiple reports Tuesday said Liverpool and Arsenal are better placed than Newcastle United to land the 20-year-old AZ Alkmaar midfielder, with no deal agreed.
• Journalist Pete O’Rourke told the Transfer Insider podcast that Liverpool now lead the race, a claim Yahoo Sports carried in an evening update.
• Liverpool’s push depends on qualifying for the Champions League, while Arsenal’s current position strengthens their case for meeting the player’s stated priority.
• Smit is under contract at AZ until 2028 and outlets report an expected fee in the €60–75 million range, which would require a major commitment from any buyer.
• Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Borussia Dortmund have also been linked, though coverage leans on transfer reporting rather than official bids, and Smit’s rise from AZ’s academy has made him a regular first-team option this season.