Manchester City have not only been signing first-team ready players this year, but they’ve also cast an eye on the future.
The likes of Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Savinho and Rayan Cherki are all 21 or younger, and all have bright futures ahead of them.
In addition, Manchester City have also sought to strengthen their academy. The likes of Kaylum Moss and Ethan Fullen are City-bound.
Now, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has confirmed that City are eyeing one of the Netherlands’ most talented young players.
Manchester City keen on Dutch midfield prodigy Kees Smit
Bailey has exclusively told Manchester City News that City are among the sides chasing young Dutch star Kees Smit.
The 19-year-old midfielder is contracted to AZ Alkmaar until 2028, but interest is mounting in him from within England and across the continent.
City are keen, but so are Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion and Leeds United.
Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Marseille are also interested in the Netherlands youth international.
“Kees Smit is a player, a real player I am being told and Manchester City know all about him,” Bailey told MCN.
“Will he leave this summer? That is the question but I think there is a real chance and City do like him – one to keep an eye on.”
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What Kees Smit could bring to Manchester City
At just 19 years of age, Smit has already made 46 competitive appearances for AZ, registering 10 goals and nine assists in the process.
Smit also helped the Netherlands win the latest Euro U19 competition and was named the Player of the Tournament.
Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo sung Smit’s praises last year and suggested he could become a superstar in future.
‘He has superior individual technical ability, which makes him stand out in dribbling and long passes,’ they began.
‘But, in addition to having a truly delicate foot, his physical performance makes him more than adequate in categories where he competes against players twice his age.
‘This has surely made his adaptation to senior football superlative, and the speed with which he has shown the qualities of his talents is surprising.
‘Even so, the player has yet to define his position. His qualities are best displayed as a mobile midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation, but he has shown that, despite his defensive intelligence, he also possesses a talent for scoring goals.
‘Therefore, everything indicates that his quality and clarity in dribbling, especially through the nutmeg, will allow him to gain ground over the weeks and move closer to the attacking midfielder.
‘Either way, Smit will always be a complete midfielder. With an innate ability to steal the ball and positional intelligence superior to that of any developing player like him. With the ability to play with his head up and distribute long passes.’
