Newcastle United delivered double transfer blow as €45m transfer ‘unlikely’

AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit is ‘unlikely’ to move clubs during the January transfer window and is expected to cost well in excess of the £20m as quoted by reports earlier this year.

Smit has impressed for his club this season and has a number of big admirers, with Newcastle United among European royalty in the list of his suitors. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich have also been linked with a move for the teenager in the January transfer window.

Smit has played 27 times in all competitions for his club this season, including five appearances in AZ Alkmaar’s Conference League campaign and it was anticipated that by the time February rolled around, he would no longer be an AZ player. However, fresh reports from Fabrizio Romano have cooled the idea that Smit may be on the move next month.

Romano wrote on X: ‘Kees Smit, one to watch in 2026 (January unlikely) with all European top clubs attentive to talented 19 yo midfielder.

‘Understand he’s expected to cost more than reported €40/45m fee as AZ Alkmaar already rejected higher initial proposals.’

Newcastle United’s interest in Kees Smit transfer

As mentioned, if the Magpies want to get a deal for the young Dutchman completed next month, then they will have to do so ahead of some fierce competition. As the time passes, though, Smit’s reputation in the game will only increase and undoubtedly leave the Magpies vulnerable to being gazumped by other clubs.

Smit, who doesn’t turn 20 until January, predominantly plays as a central midfielder and, despite not being able to force himself into the senior Dutch set-up, has impressed manager Ronald Koeman, who recently discussed comparisons between the teenager and young Spanish superstar Pedri.

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“He has the awareness to receive in tight spaces and move the ball forward. That is something we value,” Koeman said about Smit.

“The resemblance people see [to Pedri] is in how he positions himself and his decision-making under pressure. But every player must form his own identity.

“Big clubs follow players with these characteristics. That is normal. What is important is that he continues developing where he is, playing regularly.”

The January transfer window opens on New Year’s Day and will run until 7pm on Monday 2 February. The transfer windows in Europe’s top leagues will all close on that day.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, will also close their winter transfer window in-line with their European counterparts. Saudi Arabia have emerged as big-hitters in the transfer window in recent seasons and whilst they will not open their winter window until Monday 5 January, they will close it on Monday 2 February.

This is a stark difference from the summer when the Saudi Pro League window closed over three weeks after the European transfer windows had closed.

Newcastle United could be active in the winter window and could make a permanent signing during the mid-season transfer window for the first time since 2023 next month. Their efforts in the 2024 and 2025 January transfer windows were constrained by the Premier League’s financial restrictions.

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