It’s almost time for the January window to open, and the race for a player wanted by nine top European clubs is heating up, with Chelsea right in the mix.
Like every transfer window, Chelsea will be looking for smart investments for the squad to take into the second half of the season.
While the Chelsea board claim they are happy with the squad, recent results suggest reinforcements are needed.
In all areas of the pitch, there’s room for improvement. The race bubbling at the moment is for a midfielder, one of the most promising in Europe.
Chelsea just one club going after Kees Smit
We reported on the links to the young AZ Alkmaar midfielder on Sunday.
Chelsea want to sign Smits quickly to fend off Real Madrid, but new developments suggest they will have a few more suitors to contend with.
According to TEAMtalk, nine clubs are showing interest in the youngster, who has earned comparisons to both Adam Wharton and Frenkie de Jong — a technical, tempo-setting holding midfielder.
They report: “United are just the latest of the Premier League’s elite to show their admiration for Smit, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle all keen.
SCENARIO: You are one of Chelsea’s sporting directors and Todd Boehly has given you £60m to spend in January. Who are you signing?
Your potential shortlist could include:
- Kobbie Mainoo
- Mike Maignan
- Marc Guehi
“Indeed, it was Newcastle and Tottenham who first showed a real interest in Smit.”
And that’s just in England. Madrid, as well as Barcelona and Bayern Munich, see Smit as an attractive prospect. At just 19, he is already performing at a high level in the Eredivisie, but scouts see him becoming a world-class player in the coming years.
Chelsea might struggle to convince Smit given their depth
When a player has that many clubs after them, the power is truly in their hands.
If Smit had to choose, it’s hard to see him buying into Chelsea with so much quality already at Enzo Maresca’s disposal in the middle of the park.
Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo won’t be displaced, and Reece James has now thrown himself into competition in that position. With Romeo Lavia and Andrey Santos behind, it leaves little room for the Dutchman to establish himself at Stamford Bridge.
Kees Smit is wanted by all the top clubs 👀
Is midfield an area that needs addressing in January?
A team like a Man United or a Spurs would be easier to break into. The one hope for the Blues is that he backs himself to earn a place in the first team quickly and sees the value in a long-term project.
There’s no guarantee Smit moves. He is under contract with AZ Alkmaar until 2028, so he might wait until the summer before making his decision. If a January exit is on the cards, Chelsea will be there to negotiate.
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