Newcastle United hoping to replicate Antonio Cordero capture next summer according to report
This summer, Newcastle United somehow beat both Real Madrid and Barcelona to the signing of young Spanish sensation Antonio Cordero.
A new report from TBR Football has now suggested that the Magpies may be looking to repeat history by beating the Spanish giants and some other top European sides to the signing of another well-regarded teenager.
AZ Alkmaar's Kees Smit burst onto the scene for the Eredivisie side last season and went on to pick up the Player of the Tournament award after helping the Netherlands lift the Under-19 European Championships title in Romania this year.
Those performances saw UEFA liken him to a young Kevin De Bruyne and also saw plenty of clubs take note.
Kees Smit is being tracked by many big clubs, as well as Real Madrid and Barcelona
Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Chelsea and Tottenham have started showing a real interest in Smit earlier this year, while Brighton, Fulham and Brentford have also watched closely.
It's not going to be an easy task to lure the 19-year-old to Tyneside ahead of such big clubs, but the Magpies have done it before and will feel confident they can do it again.
AZ Alkmaar will be very aware that several of Europe's top clubs are circling and will no doubt be creating a lofty price tag for the teenager.
Will Newcastle go for both Kees Smits and Elliot Anderson?
The young midfielder would be a perfect signing for Eddie Howe, as he looks to add more depth to his midfield.
Newcastle are being heavily linked with a move to bring Elliot Anderson back to the north east, which may rule out a move for Smit, but as any move for either is likely going to have to wait until the summer, there may be other circumstances that cause Newcastle to go for both - namely, the selling of Joe Willock.
That is, of course, if Newcastle see Smit as first-team ready. They may go for Anderson and Smit and send the latter out on loan to develop.
