Manchester United accelerate £25m move for AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit

Manchester United have stepped up their pursuit of AZ Alkmaar’s 19-year-old midfielder Kees Smit, with recruitment figure Christopher Vivell raising his name in internal meetings and scouts filing glowing reports. A fee in the region of £25m is expected and there is growing confidence the deal can be shaped to United’s model with add-ons and a clear development pathway. The profile fits the club’s strategy under the new recruitment structure - young, technically secure, press-ready and tactically flexible. This is one to watch closely, and the feeling inside the market tonight is that United are well placed if negotiations open in earnest.

United’s scouting department have tracked Kees Smit across AZ first-team and development fixtures this year, with multiple live checks logged. The player’s data profile has repeatedly flagged as an outlier for progression, ball security and off-ball work-rate among his Eredivisie age peers. Following those reports, Christopher Vivell referenced Smit’s name during recent recruitment discussions as the club maps out medium-term midfield additions. AZ are historically firm negotiators but open to premium exits for academy products at the right price. Early expectations point to a fee near £25m, potentially structured with performance-based add-ons.

🚨 BREAKING: Manchester United hold interest in AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit. Scouts have been following the 19-year-old for a while – Vivell has mentioned his name in internal talks. Expectation of a fee of around £25M. [@SullyTalkz]

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

From a football standpoint, this move is coherent. United have targeted midfielders who can carry phases, compress distances in the press and keep the ball moving at tempo. Smit’s profile checks those boxes. At AZ, he has been schooled in a system that values positional play, quick circulation and intelligent pressing triggers. That education translates well to the Premier League’s pace, especially if he is introduced with a defined role rather than tossed into chaos.

Tactically, Smit projects as an 8 who can slide to a 6 in specific game states. He is comfortable receiving on the half-turn, threading passes through the lines and showing for the ball under pressure - qualities United often rely on younger legs to provide when chasing control. He would not be signed to carry the entire midfield on day one, but to deepen the rotation, raise the technical floor and bring energy between the boxes.

Financially, £25m is competitive for a 19-year-old with top-flight grounding and resale upside. The risk sits in adaptation time and physical robustness. The upside is a cost-controlled, modern midfielder with room to grow into a starter. In squad-building terms, it also protects United from overpaying later for similar traits when the market tightens. If wrapped correctly with add-ons, this fits the new recruitment logic: buy early, coach well, and let the player’s value rise on the pitch.

Reaction

Fan sentiment is split but engaged. A chunk of United supporters express fatigue at “another learner driver,” fearing the team needs a ready-made anchor, not another project. Others are cautiously upbeat, noting that £25m for a 19-year-old with AZ schooling is a solid market play. A few loud voices insist on a proven Premier League name - some even namecheck established profiles like Baleba as the safer route - yet that comes with a bigger fee and messy negotiations.

There’s also the pragmatic camp: back the scouting, trust the plan, and build a layered midfield where a young technician can grow alongside core pieces. The reality of social platforms shows through too: alongside the transfer talk, off-topic posts flood the thread, from gaming drops to unrelated city clips. It underlines the noise around any United rumor - high volume, mixed tone, and quick snap judgments.

What cuts through is a clear theme: fans want technical security and physical presence in midfield. Smit ticks the first box immediately and the second over time with coaching. If the deal is framed with sensible add-ons and a pathway to minutes, support will gather pace once the club’s intent is visible, especially after the first training clips and pre-season cameos.

Social reactions

United will talk about every player on the media but won't sign any

Heisshadrach🇬🇭 🔜 🇨🇦 (@yeboah_son)

We have Maino already.. why do we need this guy.. Kees who??

Psy.Kris 𝕏. (@COkadonye65015)

Another kid thank you ineos

king walker (@FrancisMen73749)

Prediction

Next steps are straightforward. United will firm up the scouting feedback with direct contact to the player’s representatives, then test AZ’s stance with an opening framework that leans on achievable add-ons. AZ typically seek clarity on development plans for academy exports, so United will outline minutes, coaching emphasis and a gradual integration path. Expect performance escalators tied to appearances and team success to bridge any valuation gap.

On the player side, the pathway matters. If United can present a realistic route to minutes - cup ties, phased league appearances, and a defined role in training - momentum will build. Work permit processes are routine for Eredivisie talents and should be navigable with club support. Timing-wise, talks could move quickly if AZ are open to early alignment, with medicals and media done after agreements are in place.

Competition could surface from data-led clubs tracking the same profile, but United’s scale, platform and current recruitment clarity give them an edge. My call: if the structure lands near £20m fixed plus add-ons, this has a strong chance of completion. If AZ push for higher guaranteed money, United will try to protect downside with a long contract and performance triggers. Either way, the trajectory favors United if they move decisively.

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Conclusion

This potential transfer fits the new spine of United’s recruitment: identify young, coachable, tactically intelligent players before their market spikes. Smit’s education at AZ is exactly the kind of foundation United want to import - smart positioning, clean feet, brave in tight spaces, team-first pressing. He would not arrive to fix everything at once, but to raise the baseline and give the staff a flexible 8 who can adapt across shapes and game plans.

At around £25m, the risk profile is acceptable for a 19-year-old with clear upside. Integration will be key. Manage the minutes, set clear tasks, and let the habits built at AZ translate with Premier League intensity. The skepticism will fade if supporters see a coherent plan unfolding on the pitch.

Bottom line: if United execute the structure and alignment with AZ, this is the sort of deal that looks smart in 12 to 18 months. The signals are positive, the fit is logical, and the internal interest is real. Now it comes down to timing, price, and a clean pathway from Alkmaar to Old Trafford.