I wasn’t too surprised to read about Arsenal’s interest in West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus yesterday.
The Hammers winger may currently be serving a three-game suspension, likely to be extended, but he remains a standout player. A recent falling-out with West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui seemed patched up with a brace of goals before his ban, yet Kudus was always destined to be a short-term presence in East London.
This much was clear from the Ghanaian’s decision to insert a recurring buyout clause in his contract. According to Claret & Hugh’s sources, this clause was the only way to convince Kudus to join the Irons, given his ambition.
At his best, Kudus is a world-class player and something of an unstoppable force, more than capable of competing at the highest level. He joined West Ham on the back of a successful Conference League season, eager to play in the Europa League.
However, this season hasn’t unfolded as anyone had hoped, and while the club can plead fans for patience with Julen Lopetegui’s tactics, the same patience can’t be expected from top-tier players.
The former Ajax man is Champions League quality and might tolerate playing out of position at a super club, but likely not for one struggling in the Premier League’s bottom half.
Kudus has an £85m release clause reactivating next summer, but an earlier exit might be on the cards. Arsenal’s rumoured interest at £90m hints at a possible bid sooner than expected. While he’s top quality, West Ham has a capable replacement in Jarrod Bowen, which could allow any transfer funds to be invested elsewhere.
Personally would have rather we kept Kudus than Bowen but as that is not the case if Arsenal offer £90m for Kudus we should snap their arm off, he is great but is best played in Bowen’s position, we will miss him but we can’t hold onto him forever playing him out of position, so better to make as much as we can and reinvest it with more young players (provided we get Potter in)
Not allowed an opinion of the contributors to the articles now it seems.
Ffs more doom.and gloom….nice feeder club for arsenal hey …..if this is actually true…anything positive like sacking this shit manager or giving the young 25 million brazilian kid a go..or is it.all shit news
Flog him. 100 million in Jan if Arsenal want him
(Though God news why he’d go there at the moment
Not for trophies that’s for sure)
Pay off Loppy and his crew, get a decent manager ASAP. and get in a fast young fwd. And a mobile lively tackling midfielder. Soton have one. Name of Downes
Needs to look up and pass now and then, so many times he could of put players in if he had looked wide , good player not world class yet
World Class?? Come on , decent yes, but no evidence to suggest he has performed at world class level consistently or for long enough to warrant that comment