AZ Alkmaar attacker Kees Smit has effectively ruled out a future transfer to AFC Ajax. The 20-year-old Netherlands international stated he is not particularly keen on a move to Ajax, Feyenoord, or PSV Eindhoven.
Smit stressed that the gap between AZ and the traditional top clubs has narrowed. "That has to do with it, but also with the fact that AZ is currently on par with PSV, Ajax, or Feyenoord," the player said. He added that the step from AZ to one of those clubs is not necessarily needed anymore, although he has thought about it sometimes.
The comments come as Ajax sits fifth in the Eredivisie with 14 points from seven games. The Amsterdam side trails league leaders AZ, Smit's current club, by five points. The player, whose contract runs until 2028, once trained with Ajax's youth setup but chose AZ's academy due to the atmosphere.
Smit made his senior Netherlands debut in March but was not included in the World Cup squad. He says he is focusing on his performances for AZ and feedback from his coaches. "I have to show again what I can do," he stated. Smit recently played about an hour in AZ's Europa League loss to Sunderland. His team leads the Eredivisie with 19 points from seven matches and has won its last five league games. AZ's next fixture is an away match against FC Utrecht on October 8th.
With players like Julian Brandt, who has four goals this season, Ajax has already bolstered its midfield. The club now appears able to focus on other options in the squad rather than a costly pursuit of Smit, for whom a fee in the region of €50-60 million was mentioned before the summer. In the coming weeks, Ajax can focus on the standings and preparing for the home match against NEC Nijmegen on October 10th.
The report in full is at sports.yahoo.com
