West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus appears to be in something of an unenviable position as he seeks to leave the London Stadium.
It’s something of an open secret that he wants to leave and that the club want to sell, but both have conditions.
Kudus will not move to Saudi Arabia, where riches and wealth have been a secondary consideration after football. The 24-year-old is said to value Champions League football and playing at the highest level, which is admirable.
For our part, West Ham will not just sell the winger for any old price, and it has been suggested that offers of £50m would be rejected.
With both parties making stipulations, the list of clubs who could afford to sign Kudus has shrunk drastically. Which is why reports that the last three clubs left standing are probably the ones who can afford him.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle seem to be the last realistic options in the pursuit of the former Ajax man. Presumably, Man U would be ruled out due to lack of Champions League football, which leaves Chelsea and the Magpies.
That’s not too many clubs left remaining for a bidding war, and the concern is that the saga could drag on. But one thing looks certain—West Ham won’t be getting near the £85m buyout clause which is believed to be activated in two weeks.