Real Madrid is reportedly keen on acquiring Kees Smit, the promising young midfielder from AZ Alkmaar, though a potential transfer hinges on the Dutch club's valuation. While Smit has caught the eye of the Madrid hierarchy, the club is unwilling to meet AZ Alkmaar's reported asking price of €25-30 million. According to sources close to the negotiations, Florentino Pérez has set a firm ceiling for this operation at €15 or €16 million. Should AZ Alkmaar accept this figure, the deal would be swiftly finalized. Otherwise, Real Madrid is prepared to walk away from the negotiation.

Within Real Madrid's youth setup, particularly under coach Xabi Alonso, there's an acknowledgment of the potential need for a midfielder with Smit's profile. However, the club is reportedly quite content with their current options in the midfield. Arda Güler's surprising performance in the central midfield role, where Xabi intends to deploy him this season, has been particularly well-received.

Meanwhile, Aurélien Tchouaméni continues to impress with his incredible level of play, especially in the absence of the injured Eduardo Camavinga. The coaching staff believes Camavinga possesses the potential to become the world's best in his position, though they also note areas in his game that require refinement.

Other Clubs Tracking Kees Smit

Real Madrid isn't the only major European club monitoring the 19-year-old midfielder. According to TBRFootball, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are also highly interested in Smit. Furthermore, some journalists have even suggested that Barcelona is exploring the possibility of signing him.

Despite the growing interest from other clubs, Real Madrid's stance is clear: Smit's team must prioritize discussions with the Spanish giants. The Blancos are not prepared to enter into a bidding war for the young talent, emphasizing their take-it-or-leave-it offer.