Man Utd heed Ferdinand’s advice by chasing £43m Dutchman compared to De Jong & De Bruyne

Manchester United are reportedly considering a move for young AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit , who is also wanted by several other top Premier League clubs.

The Red Devils are looking to bolster their midfield ranks in the summer by signing at least two new players.

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Man Utd will part ways with Casemiro, whose departure has already been confirmed, while Manuel Ugarte could be sold after two disappointing seasons, which would leave Kobbie Mainoo as the sole survivor in the department.

The Premier League giants are currently chasing a host of potential candidates for the roles, and the main profiles mentioned in recent months have been Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Adam Wharton, and Carlos Baleba.

However, each of them could cost around £100 million, so INEOS might only be able to afford one. Therefore, United are simultaneously looking for more affordable profiles outside the Premier League.

According to CaughtOffside , Man Utd are keeping close tabs on Kees Smit , who is considered one of the most exciting up-and-coming midfielders in the Netherlands and Europe.

This would be music to the ears of Rio Ferdinand, who recently raved about the young man.

“Kees Smit is the truth man, I’m telling you. He’s one you go, ‘I’m buying him.’ It doesn’t have to be for now,” said the legendary defender on his podcast.

“I hope he does come in and takes the world by storm, but if we’ve got to wait six months to a year for him, I do not care. We cannot let him go elsewhere. “I’ve seen him play a couple of times now and that’s all I need to see. I’ve seen the clips… man. I’ve spoken to some guys in Holland, friends. The kid has got it.”

– Friday, 10 April 2026

The 20-year-old is a youth product of AZ Alkmaar, who has now cemented himself as a regular feature for the club.

However, the source warns Man Utd of stern competition for the Dutchman’s signature, with the likes of Newcastle United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool all following the player’s progress, in addition to Spanish rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.

(Stats via FotMob )

CaughtOffside believes Alkmaar’s asking price for Smit will be between €45 million (£39m) and €50 million (£43.5m). Therefore, the Netherlands international would cost half the transfer fee requested for Elliot and the other EPL midfielders mentioned above.

Therefore, this could be a shrewd piece of business for Man Utd’s part, especially if the comparisons between Smit and top-notch midfielders like Kevin de Bruyne and Frenkie de Jong prove accurate.

As is often the case with Dutch players, he is versatile and agile enough to cover several roles in the middle of the park. Nevertheless, a detailed scouting report argues that he is most effective when deployed as a deep-lying playmaker.

“Smit has the profile of a complete midfielder: technically secure, mentally mature, and with the transitional instincts that modern top-level football demands,” reported FutBird .

“New-age midfielders are expected to adapt across all three central roles, and Smit has shown he can operate as a 6, 8, or 10 depending on the system.

“As a central midfielder, he posts stronger outputs in progressive passes, carries, and take-ons, highlighting his influence in build-up and transitional phases. As an attacking midfielder, his pass volume and completion improve slightly, but his ability to progress play and contribute defensively diminishes.

The difference underscores that his best work comes from deeper, where he can dictate tempo, launch attacks, and offer defensive support. With his mix of technical ability, tactical awareness, and growing physicality, Smit embodies the modern midfielder. He can dictate play from deep or drive forward when needed — a true talent worth tracking.”

We can deduce that Smit is somewhat similar to Wharton, who Man Utd has reportedly ditched , because they felt he might be incompatible with Mainoo.

Therefore, it will be interesting to see if Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell will have a different opinion about the rising Alkmaar star.