Photo via BBC Sport

Liverpool watch £51.5m-rated Smit - Saturday's gossip

European transfer speculation is swirling around several rising talents. Liverpool dispatched scouts to assess Kees Smit during AZ Alkmaar's midweek Europa League clash against Sunderland, with Chelsea, Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest also tracking the £51.5m-rated 20-year-old Dutch midfielder.

Meanwhile, Tottenham lead Brentford, Newcastle, and Forest in pursuing 19-year-old Brazilian defender Arthur Dias from Athletico Paranaense for an estimated €30m. Spurs are additionally weighing a free-transfer swoop for 33-year-old Argentine striker Mauro Icardi following his Galatasaray departure, though registration must wait until January.

Elsewhere, Manchester United continue tracking 24-year-old Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, and Chelsea are keeping watch alongside rival continental suitors over 20-year-old defender Josh Acheampong.

Squad adjustments also loom for Monaco, who intend to offload 25-year-old American forward Folarin Balogun in January following his collapsed deadline-day switch to Everton, while acknowledging 22-year-old Senegalese midfielder Lamine Camara could depart amid interest from Chelsea and Liverpool. Both Liverpool and Manchester City share interest in 25-year-old Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha, with Borussia Dortmund demanding €80-90m.

Newcastle aim to rekindle their pursuit of 22-year-old Norwegian midfielder Bo Hegland after he rejected a summer exit from Djurgarden. In youth recruitment, Real Madrid are pushing hard for 17-year-old Ajax midfielder Abdellah Ouazane, Arsenal, Brighton, and Aston Villa are competing for £20m-rated 17-year-old Sturm Graz midfielder Luca Weinhandl, and Chelsea have entered the chase for Tromso's 15-year-old Gambian prospect Adama Jeng.

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