Barcelona midfield target says he is available for €30 million in six months

Kees Smit is currently one of the most exciting young midfielders in European football.

Currently plying his trade for AZ Alkmaar, the youngster has witnessed unprecedented success in the Eredivisie, impressing onlookers with his technical abilities in the middle of the park.

Smit’s success has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona among the clubs interested in acquiring his services.

Kees Smit on his future

What’s even more interesting is that Smit himself has now confirmed that he will be leaving Alkmaar soon, perhaps even in the next six months.

In a conversation with De Telegraaf (h/t Diario AS), Smit said, “How long do I see myself at AZ? I think six months or a year and a half.“

“After that, I hope to have taken the next step. I expect my transfer to be completed for 30 million,” he added.

While it is kind of unusual for players to spell out how much money they are going to attract in the transfer market, it appears Smit is determined not only to leave Alkmaar but also to make sure the club receive proper compensation.

Kees Smit: The next big thing in Dutch football? (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

“It would be AZ’s most expensive sale and would be good for the club,” he said.

Smit went on to admit that he doesn’t want to remain in the Netherlands, having already featured in 58 competitive matches for Alkmaar.

“My next step is outside of the Netherlands. I don’t find it difficult to accept. In fact, I think it’s wonderful, and I’ve started thinking about it,” he said.

Smit also talked about Ronald Koeman, comparing him to Pedri recently, admitting that he was enamoured by the compliment.

“I was even a little shocked because I didn’t expect the Dutch national team press conference to be about me. But I watched it several times. The more I watched it, the more I liked it,” he said.

Finally, Smit talked about his prospects in the Dutch national team, where he will notably compete with Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong.

“I think breaking into the Dutch national team is still a big challenge. There are some very good midfielders there. I’ll have to start at a bigger club to have a chance,” he concluded.