Kees Smit: Man United forced to show their hand in midfield prodigy chase | OneFootball

Over the past few months, Manchester United have repeatedly found themselves linked with AZ Alkmaar’s midfield prodigy Kees Smit, yet they now risk missing out on the next Frenkie de Jong.

So keen to strengthen their engine room ahead of 2026,  United have consistently been linked with some of Europe’s finest midfield talents. Among them is Dutch sensation Smit.

Smit: Dutch midfield prodigy on United’s radar

Smit has been a marvel in AZ Alkmaar colours. With his vision, passing range and playmaking style, he has already been dubbed the next Frenkie de Jong.

Much like the Barcelona midfielder, he is steadily emerging as a deep-lying playmaker capable of dictating tempo and injecting dynamism into his side.

Years after missing out on De Jong and struggling to get their midfield signings right, United should view a swoop for Smit as a chance to redeem themselves for past transfer missteps.

To do so, however, they must act quickly; Chelsea are already working to beat them to his signature.

Chelsea emerge as frontrunners in Smit chase

In the latest Smit update, i News report:

“The Blues are very keen on Smit, the 19‑year‑old Holland under‑21 international, and are ready to rival fellow Premier League suitors Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester United for a player who is rated at around £25m.”

Explaining why Chelsea are emerging as a frontrunner, the report adds:

“There has been recent dialogue between Chelsea and Smit’s camp.”

Transfer hope remains

Despite those talks, there is still hope for other suitors, such as United. i News note:

“It’s unclear whether they will make a move in January, with the Blues expecting more of a quiet winter transfer window after revamping their squad in the close season.”

What United must do

With that said, it is clear what Manchester United need to do if they are to land Smit. The Red Devils must open their own channel of communication and make their case directly to the player’s entourage.

Should those discussions progress positively, INEOS could attempt to pull off the deal in the winter and, in doing so, spoil Chelsea’s plans of securing the 19-year-old in the summer.

Featured image Daniel Jayo via Getty Images

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