Report: Liverpool have held ‘initial talks’ to complete another late signing | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Dutch Link Grows Stronger as Kees Smit Enters the Frame

As the January window reaches its final stretch, Liverpool once again find themselves quietly active behind the scenes. Credit must go to DaveOCKOP, who broke the original story that has now sent ripples through Anfield and beyond. Their report set the tone for what feels like another carefully planned move rather than a reactive dash.

The timing matters. “With just a number of hours left in the January transfer window, Liverpool could make some late moves,” DaveOCKOP wrote, and that urgency shapes everything that follows. Arne Slot has already had to adjust on the fly this season, and recruitment is clearly being used as a tool to keep Liverpool competitive in the second half of the campaign.

Arne Slot’s fingerprints on Liverpool’s transfer thinking

Slot’s influence is impossible to ignore. The original piece explains how Lutsharel Geertruida is “seen as an option to help reinforce the right back position as Liverpool push in the second half of the 2025/26 season” following injuries to Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong. That context shows a manager who wants continuity, players who understand his methods and mentality.

It is within that same logic that Kees Smit suddenly makes sense. DaveOCKOP revealed, “Liverpool could make a move for AZ Alkmaar star Kees Smit” and also confirmed, “initial talks have been held by the club and those representing the player.” That is not the language of distant interest, it is the language of a club exploring real possibilities.

Kees Smit profile and why Liverpool are watching

Smit’s rise has been steady rather than flashy, which arguably makes him an ideal Liverpool target. He announced himself when he “made his first team debut on 7th November 2024 in AZ’s 3-1 Europa League win over Fenerbahce, scoring the second and assisting the third.” Moments like that get noticed across Europe.

Photo: IMAGO

Now 20, he has “made 16 appearances so far this term, scoring two goals and registering two assists.” Those numbers are not headline grabbing, but they hint at a midfielder who influences games in subtle, intelligent ways, exactly the sort of player Slot tends to trust.

AZ Alkmaar, for their part, know what they are dealing with. DaveOCKOP noted that “AZ Alkmaar see him as a big talent for the future and are aware of interest from big clubs,” while also acknowledging that “the club is open to selling him and are seeking to get the highest transfer fee possible for the player.”

Transfer politics and the £30m question

The situation has been complicated by outside noise. The players’ union accused clubs of treating footballers “as pure merchandise, not as mature employees with the right to self determination” amid attempts “to get exorbitant transfers for Kees Smit and Kodai Sano.” That public dispute suggests a market where agents and clubs are pushing hard for maximum value.

For Liverpool, the price point is clear. “They will be expecting to fork out around £30m for his services if they wished to proceed with any deal.” Whether that becomes reality may depend on how strongly Slot pushes for him.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a supporter’s standpoint, this story feels quietly exciting rather than chaotic. Kees Smit is not a marquee name, but Liverpool’s best recent signings have often arrived without hype. Slot’s system thrives on technically secure midfielders who can interpret space, and Smit’s steady development at AZ Alkmaar fits that profile.

The fact that “initial talks have been held” suggests Liverpool are genuinely weighing him up, not merely monitoring. At £30m, he would be an investment in the next three to five years, not just a quick fix. That aligns perfectly with how this squad has been built.

There is also something reassuring about Liverpool acting early in a player’s career, rather than waiting until the price doubles. If Smit arrives, he would do so knowing he is part of a long term plan, not a stop gap. For fans, that is the kind of recruitment that keeps optimism high as Slot continues to shape his Liverpool side.