Brighton have made enquiries for AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit and are still interested in signing him. They are part of a list of interested Premier League clubs that also includes Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Brentford, and Fulham. Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Liverpool have also been approached regarding the 20-year-old's availability. It is understood that Newcastle United are the frontrunners to sign him. AZ Alkmaar will likely ask for a fee of €60m (£52m) for the Netherlands Under-21 international. The player is open to a move this summer but intends to choose his next step carefully and will not rush a decision. There is also interest from outside England; Real Madrid and Barcelona have inquired about his situation, while RB Leipzig, Stuttgart, and Monaco are also monitoring the situation. Many of the clubs pursuing Smit believe he has the profile and potential to become a major midfielder in the Premier League. The Dutch player has one senior cap for the Netherlands and contributed 3 goals and 3 assists in 26 Eredivisie appearances during the 2025/2026 season. His contract at AZ Alkmaar runs until June 30, 2028, and his current market value on Transfermarkt is €25.00m. In February 2026, it was reported that Real Madrid had submitted a €50 million offer for the player.