West Ham selling Mohammed Kudus certainly seems to be the main story of the moment, and there’s enough speculation to suggest something is happening.
While West Ham may not receive the full £85 million buyout clause, there appears to be enough interest to spark a mini bidding war that could push the value up towards £65 million.
However, it’s worth pointing out that not all transfers are created equal. While Tottenham might be tempted to raise their offer for the winger, it’s hard to imagine them meeting the terms David Sullivan would accept.
As seen with Declan Rice’s move, West Ham prefer deals that are heavily front-loaded over a short timeframe. Arsenal paid £100 million for Rice in three instalments across just 18 months—precisely the sort of structure Daniel Levy tends to avoid.
The Spurs chairman is known as a tough negotiator, and it’s difficult to envisage a scenario where he and Sullivan find common ground.
Kudus has made it clear he wants Champions League football, but unless that £85m release clause is triggered, he doesn’t get to choose. That’s why Manchester United remain firmly in the frame—they can meet West Ham’s valuation and would likely be willing to pay in full within less than five years.
Chelsea and Newcastle United are still in the hunt, but any Spurs bid may hinge on how hard Thomas Frank pushes Levy. I suspect the offer would be incentive-based, spread over the maximum term, with no sell-on clause—something Sullivan would swiftly reject.
Anything else would suggest two men who have little time for one another have changed—and I just can’t see it.