BARCELONA — When Frenkie de Jong returned from the World Cup with a knee problem, the midfield plans at the Camp Nou were thrown into doubt. And the need of a signing has grown urgent as his long absence, plus a potential €40m sale of Marc Casadó, draws near.

Enter Kees Smit — a 20-year-old Dutch midfielder at AZ Alkmaar who fits the club's traditional identity more naturally than most alternatives.

Midfielder of the 'Barça archetype'

Smit possesses many of the qualities Barcelona have historically looked for in a midfielder. He is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, can progress play through passing and running, and plays with a composure that is uncharacteristic for his age. Combining quickly in tight spaces and switching play neatly, Smit's style has been compared to that of De Jong, Pedri, Tijjani Reijnders and Enzo Fernández.

Ronald Koeman has called him a mixture of Pedri and De Jong, while Arda Turan praised his ability to control matches. He won the UEFA Youth League with AZ, was voted Player of the Tournament as the Netherlands won the European Under-19 Championship, and was recognised as the Conference League's Revelation of the Season.

At €40-45m, AZ's price tag for the midfielder is high given his limited top-level experience, but it is far lower than what Barcelona could expect to pay in a year's time. Most of the other targets discussed — Rodri, Javi Guerra, Mikel Merino and Fabián Ruiz — are unrealistic or fail to make financial sense.

A Dutch tradition continues

The Blaugrana-Dutch connection runs deep through Johan Cruyff, Koeman and De Jong. Signing Smit before his reputation overtakes the moment offers a forward-thinking recruitment bet that could serve both as the immediate solution and as the long-term heir to the double pivot.