The increasing frequency of links with new signings in January is of course par for just about every Premier league club at present as the rumour mill ratchets up just a week ahead of the window. However, focussing on players reported to be under the Steidten microscope, along with the mood music coming from London Stadium this week, it is quite possible to draw some very favourable conclusions regarding the future of Mohammed Kudus:
Most of the front men under discussion are Matalan men rather than Selfridges strikers -Yuri Alberto, Igor Jesus and today Stefanos Tzimas plus of course the loan deal rumoured with Evan Ferguson from Brighton all point in the same direction: West Ham are working to bring in a striker on a budget without splurging £40-50 million. Which indicates to me that they’re likely not planning on a massive cash injection from a January Mohammed Kudus sale.
None of these is going to cost more than £25 million. Almost Fullkrug money even if the German is sold at a loss.
Further words on Kudus from Skipper Jarrod Bowen – talking to West Ham – suggests the Ghanaian is going nowhere: “He’s a great asset for the Club, and I’m really happy for him. He deserves it and I’m sure he’ll score many more this season.”
Kudus himself has been more conciliatory of tone in what seems to be a de-escalation of the war of words – perhaps he’s had time to reflect following his 5 game ban. Speaking after his Brighton goal:“It feels good to have been able to contribute to the result. As an attacker, it’s always good to score, and it will really help my confidence. It would’ve been nice to have helped to get all three points, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
“We’re together as a group, and I think we’re getting there. We have a lot of quality, and I think there is a lot that we can achieve. It’s about completing the puzzle together”
Suddenly the short-term signs are looking more favourable for Hammers’ Kudus fans. Of course, if a £100 million bid comes in then I don’t think anyone expects the board to refuse it: But at the moment, West Ham appear to be planning for their ‘star boy’ to be around for the rest of this season at least.
Let’s see, if a big offer goes in for Kudus, £70m and McAtee from Man City, £90+m from others we should take it, sack JLO and rebuild with more aggressive young hungry players, Delap from Ipswich is such a player, Ferguson if he would sign a good exchange with Fullkrug for a different threat.
Let’s hope whatever happens we make some good choices that improves us COYI!!!
With the Steindten “promise” and Lopetegui I believe we will be better off with them both gone neither have been great for us
Kudus is one of West Ham’s best attackers -if not the best one-, he switches his magic on, he is fun to watch and can be a deciding factor to win games. At times it is a bit unclear if he lacks motivation or if he has a complicated personality, but in the end I would trust he will manage to focus and get back to his best. Hence, no hurry to sell him.