Amorim mentioned "Man Utd" joining the hunt for a "hot prospect" player to strengthen the squad in a key position, competing with five teams.
On 29 Dec 2025 GMT+7, The Athletic, a leading English media outlet, reported that Manchester United, the famous Premier League club, is ready to join the race to sign Keith Smith, a promising young midfielder from AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Man Utd aims to bolster their midfield as part of manager Ruben Amorim’s plan, but their top three targets—Carlos Baleba (Brighton), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), and Adam Worthington (Crystal Palace)—have transfer fees that are too high.
Recently, sources revealed that Man Utd is interested in signing 19-year-old Keith Smith but will have to compete with Premier League rival Newcastle United and three European giants: Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Borussia Dortmund.
Although AZ Alkmaar is reluctant to sell Keith Smith during the January transfer window, they may consider offers from Man Utd or other interested clubs in the summer for an estimated fee of about £52 million.
Keith Smith is a product of AZ Alkmaar’s youth academy, promoted to the first team in 2023. He can play as a defensive midfielder, central midfielder, and attacking midfielder. He helped the Netherlands U19 win the European Championship this year and was named the tournament’s best player.
This season, Keith Smith has secured a regular starting spot at AZ Alkmaar, appearing in 27 matches with 2 goals and 5 assists. His playing style, similar to Kevin De Bruyne and Frenkie de Jong, has made him a target for many top European clubs.