Crystal Palace now keen to sign £22m star who is set to visit Selhurst Park in November

Crystal Palace now keen to sign £22m star who is set to visit Selhurst Park in November

Crystal Palace Eye Talented Young Midfielder Ahead of January Transfer Window

Although the summer transfer window only closed a month ago, Crystal Palace are already shifting their focus to potential signings in January.

Manager Oliver Glasner could be planning a significant winter push, especially with his side emerging as surprise contenders in the Premier League title race—boosted by a recent 2-1 victory over Liverpool.

As they prepare to open their UEFA Conference League campaign against Dynamo Kyiv on Thursday, Palace sit impressively in third place in the Premier League and are riding an 18-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.

Palace Join Race for Rising Star Kees Smit

According to a new report from BBC Sport, Crystal Palace have added 19-year-old midfielder Kees Smit to their list of transfer targets.

The AZ Alkmaar youngster shot to prominence this summer by winning the U19 European Championship with the Netherlands.

He was not only the tournament’s top scorer but also named Player of the Tournament.

Smit, a central midfielder, made his breakthrough with AZ last season, featuring in 20 Eredivisie matches.

He has continued his development this term with six appearances, scoring once and providing two assists. AZ currently sit 5th in the Dutch Eredivisie, matching their finish from last season.

Interestingly, Smit is set to play at Selhurst Park next month, assuming he remains fit. AZ are scheduled to face Crystal Palace in the Conference League on November 6th.

A Star on the Rise

Following his standout summer, Smit has become a well-known name in the Netherlands and has even drawn attention from European giants such as Real Madrid and Barcelona.

After the U19 Euros, Smit was asked about his market value. When questioned whether he believed he was worth at least €25 million (£21.8 million), he cheekily replied:
“Well, more, I think. Maybe five or 10 million more.”

With growing interest from top clubs and a strong start to the season, Smit’s value seems poised to increase even further.

For Crystal Palace, the Dutch teenager could prove to be an ideal long-term successor to Adam Wharton—himself a reported target for Real Madrid.