The 18-year-old Kees Smit is enjoying his breakthrough season for AZ after winning the Under-19 European Championships, as well as the Player of the Tournament award, with the Netherlands last summer.
FC Barcelona and Real Madrid were reportedly already after Smit last summer, but the youngster decided to stay at AZ and make his mark in Alkmaar first.
Help of Jorge Mendes
Now, with the two Spanish giants and more clubs from the European elite allegedly after the talented midfielder, AZ have called in the help of Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes, Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reported.
The club are reportedly aiming to get €60 million for Smit, and Mendes, agent of the likes of Lamine Yamal, Vitinha and Joao Pedro, has been tasked with exploring the market for Smit through his connections with top clubs from around the continent.
AZ will therefore follow the example set by AS Monaco in 2018, when the Monegasque club asked Jorge Mendes to help materialise Kylian Mbappe's transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
The club's €60 million target is driven by Director of Football Max Huiberts, who will leave after the 2025/26 season. Huiberts wants to leave AZ 'with a bang', Algemeen Dagblad stated.
AZ's current record transfer is that of Tijjani Reijnders to AC Milan, who paid €24.8 million for the midfielder in 2023.
Kees Smit has scored two goals and assisted five in 28 games across all competitions this season. The 18-year-old is under contract in Alkmaar until 2028.