Exclusive: Brentford Target Genk's Matte Smets as Belgium Defender Attracts Premier League Interest

Matte Smets could be the answer to Brentford’s defensive prayers.

The 21-year-old has already been capped by Belgium and SportsBoom sources have been told he wants to follow in the footsteps of compatriots Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen by moving to the Premier League.

Smets has been tipped to become the country’s latest elite defender and is attracting interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa, alongside the Bees. 

The youngster spent eight years in the Genk academy before moving to Sint-Truiden in the Belgian Pro League.

He spent four years in their youth set-up and after two seasons with the first team Genk swooped in to take him back to the club, seeing off interest from Fulham and Watford.

It is understood that a fee in the region of £15-£20million would tempt Genk to sell.

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Thomas Frank's side are crying out for another centre-back this summer.

Ben Mee, 35, signed a one-year contract extension at the club last season, but after another injury-hit campaign could see him leave at the end of the season.

The former Burnley centre-back is a popular member of the squad with vast amounts of Premier League experience, but the club should be planning for life without him.

Ethan Pinnock has been a colossus at the back for the Bees since he joined the club from Barnsley in 2019, but he has looked off the pace at times this term as well.

Nathan Collins has transformed his Brentford career this season and developed into Thomas Frank’s first choice centre-back, but is crying out for a regular partner with Norway international Kristoffer Ajer regularly filling in at right-back. 

Previously a defensive midfielder, Smets is a composed ball carrier and is adept at starting attacks from the back, which would suit Frank’s style of play at the GTech.