Manchester United is keen on outmaneuvering Real Madrid and Barcelona in their pursuit of Kees Smit, who is rapidly becoming a player to keep an eye on as the winter transfer window approaches.
Smit has been attracting interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona for several months, with Los Blancos having a particularly strong interest in the AZ Alkmaar midfielder. However, Manchester United may secure his signing first, as CaughtOffside reports that they are currently the only club to have made contact with the 19-year-old and his representatives.
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The report also indicates that “everyone at AZ is aware that Smit is likely to attract offers, and they’re now open to letting him go for the right price next summer,” with a potential transfer fee expected to be around £25m (€28m).
Potential for a January deal, finalized in the summer
A transfer agreement is likely to be reached in January, with the preference being for Smit to remain at AZ for the rest of the season. This arrangement would be acceptable to either Real Madrid or Barcelona; however, if either club is to secure his services, they need to act swiftly as Manchester United is taking decisive steps early on.
It will be intriguing to observe if other clubs emulate Manchester United’s approach. Should Barcelona decide to enter the fray, they would have a strong chance of acquiring him. In recent reports, it has been noted that Smit has expressed a strong admiration for the Catalan club, making it likely that he would prefer a transfer to Spotify Camp Nou over a move to Real Madrid.