AZ Alkmaar manager speaks out on immediate future of 19-year-old Newcastle United target
Newcastle United are amongst a host of clubs tracking talented young AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit, with the Magpies thought to be weighing up a January move.
Eddie Howe could probably do with a bit more depth in the midfield, as Jacob Ramsey hasn't exactly hit the ground running, and the past two outings aside, Joe Willock has looked a shadow of his former self.
Lewis Miley is, for our money, the fourth-choice midfielder currently, behind the regular trio, but we can see a future where Joe Willock is moved on and a new player is brought in.
There has been a lot of talk about Newcastle's interest in 19-year-old Kees Smit from Alkmaar, even that Newcastle will move in January in a bid to beat other clubs to the punch, with the Magpies banking on everyone else waiting until the summer to make their move.
AZ Alkmaar seem confident of keeping hold of Kees Smit ... until the summer
Newcastle moving in January doesn't mean that Alkmaar or Smit would be willing to negotiate in January, though, and going off what Alkmaar manager Merijn Zeeman told ESPN at the weekend, that appears to be the case.
"No, no, zero interest (as it stands).
“I can honestly say that. Well, it's November, almost December. It seems pretty normal to me. Things will undoubtedly pick up after the summer, but right now it's still quiet.”
Persuading Kees Smit to join Newcastle won't be an easy task
It does sound as though the gaffer is expecting a fight to keep Smit beyond the summer, but is confident he'll still be their player after the January window closes.
We still hope that Newcastle try their luck in January, as if there's a deal to be done before other clubs have made their move, it would be very shrewd, and it would certainly give fans confidence in Ross Wilson. Fans could do with feeling like our recruitment team actually knows what they're doing, as it hasn't seemed that way for a long time.
Given how many clubs are monitoring Smith, though, we're not expecting it to be an easy task to get him to join the Toon whether it be in January or the Summer. We'll see, though.
