‘Up to him’… Virgil van Dijk on Kees Smit as reported Liverpool target makes Netherlands debut

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Reported Liverpool target Kees Smit made his international debut on Friday as talk ramps up over a potential summer transfer.

Smit has emerged as one of the most talented young midfielders in Europe this season, shining with AZ Alkmaar and forcing his way into the Netherlands’ squad ahead of the World Cup.

Ahead of Friday’s friendly against Norway, Smit said how excited he was to play alongside Virgil van Dijk, and after starting and playing 69 minutes of the 2-1 win, the 20-year-old was praised by the Liverpool captain.

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Van Dijk happy with ‘nervous’ Smit performance

Although all of the talk in the build-up to the summer so far has been about new wingers arriving at Anfield, there is a strong argument that Liverpool need a new defensive midfielder even more urgently.

Smit has been linked as a potential solution to that particular problem, and after he played alongside the Reds’ Dutch contingent for the first time on Friday, Van Dijk seems to have been impressed.

“Maybe he was a bit nervous,” the 34-year-old conceded via Voetbal International. “But I feel he did well. It is up to him to follow through.”

READ MORE: ‘Threatening’ Cody Gakpo unrecognisable from Liverpool displays while playing for the Netherlands

According to Voetbal Primeur, the youngster ‘didn’t look out of place’ in the midfield alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Tijani Reijnders, delivering ‘excellent passes’ during his time on the pitch.

AD are slightly less effusive, claiming that Smit could have been ‘faster and more accurate’ at times, and was made to realise that he had taken a step up from the Eredivisie.

However, that is to be expected of such a young midfielder, and as he continues to break into the wider footballing consciousness, it would certainly not put Liverpool off from a move.

Smit will be learning a lot from being around Van Dijk, Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo in the Dutch camp, and as he looks ahead to summer plans, Arne Slot will no doubt be interested to hear back from his players on what they think of a potential transfer swoop.