According to reports, West Ham United are in the final stages of signing Ghana international Mohammed Kudus from AFC Ajax.
Kudus, who has been at the Dutch Eredivisie club for the last three years after signing as a teenage talent from Danish club Nordsjælland, has made it clear that he is ready to move on. Initial links to Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as Brighton and Hove Albion were in the news but Ajax failed to reach any agreement with these clubs.
West Ham United joined the fray late but have now made the most progress. The Hammers have reportedly agreed to a deal with the 36-time Eredivisie champions worth £37 million (broken down into £35 million in transfer fees plus £2 million in performance-related add-ons) for the 23-year-old midfielder. The Hammers are understood to be in the process of finalising the personal terms of their five-year contract offer to Kudus, who could be unveiled as a West Ham player before the weekend’s action.
This news comes after Ajax initially rejected two offers from the Hammers because of their reluctance to let the versatile player leave at this stage in the summer window. The player’s insistence to move on seems to have forced their hand and West Ham’s offer has been deemed sufficient to buy out the remaining two years of the player’s contract with De Godenzonen.
Kudus will become West Ham’s marquee signing for the summer. The Hammers were heading towards a 2023/24 season without any summer transfers but the fans are now witnessing a late surge in their transfer dealings.
James Ward-Prowse was brought in from Southampton and provided two assists on his debut for West Ham as they defeated Chelsea at the London Stadium. Mexican Edson Alvarez also made his debut over the weekend after signing last week.
This week, former Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos is set to return to London and the Premier League after signing with West Ham. He could make his debut alongside Kudus, who is not the last signing the Hammers are looking to complete before the 1 September deadline for transfers in the 2023 summer transfer window.
Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri’s name is back on the table at the West Ham offices. Hammers’ manager David Moyes has had his eyes set on the Moroccan for so long but every attempt from West Ham to sign the player has been met by a brick wall put up by the player and the LaLiga side. Reports indicate that things could change this time around but no formal offer has been made by the East London side.
West Ham also have their sights set on Folarin Balogun but while they pursue all other targets, they will do well not to lose sight of the Kudus deal. Reports also claim that Arsenal, long-term admirers of the Ghana international, are planning a sneak attack to hijack the move.
Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and Kieran Tierney are all close to leaving Arsenal and this could force the club to make one or two signings to cover for their loss. Kudus is back on their transfer table and Arsenal is believed to be weighing up a £40 million move for the Ghanaian.
This is according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who also claims that Arsenal have reached out to Kudus’ entourage to sound out his situation.
