West Ham were always going to lose Mohammed Kudus, and it was always a case of “if” rather than “when” the winger would leave.
Claret & Hugh were informed from the outset by a top Hammers official that the deal for the Ghanaian was a difficult one to negotiate. The player and his representatives had insisted on an exit clause in his contract, and it was always clear that Kudus had ambitions to play at a higher level.
During his first interview after signing, the winger told the Hammersâ in-house media team how crucial it was for him to play European football following his transfer from Ajax. Therefore, it was always going to be difficult to keep hold of him once the club failed to qualify for the Europa Conference League at the end of last season.
Perhaps Kudus might have remained at West Ham if the club looked likely to qualify for next seasonâs competition, but the stark reality is that weâre nowhere close. Niclas FĂźllkrug remarked earlier this week that he was aware there would be no continental competition during his first season in East London, and it now appears unlikely in the immediate future as well.
Unfortunately for West Ham, it does seem like Kudus will be leaving, whether we like it or not. All that remains is to secure the best possible fee for him. Whilst I doubt we’ll get the ÂŁ100m demanded by the club, we’ll not accept ÂŁ65m either.
More likely a deal will be done in the region of ÂŁ80m with bonuses.
Itâs not a bad model to buy and sell players like Kudus because we make money from it and we showcase West Ham as a good move for top up and coming players to come and show case themselves in the premier league and earn a move to a bigger team. If players round the world see players like Rice and Kudus moving on for big money they wonât see West Ham as a dead end move. Theyâll see West Gam as a springboard. Somewhere to come and showcase their talents and a club that wonât cling on to them but will sell them upwards when the time comes.
The small club mentality is literally oozing throughout your post . Whufc have the 2nd highest attendance in the country. Only thing stopping this club is the useless owner .
Attendances are just a small part of professional football.
West Hams financial turnover, global profile, they are not in the G18, means ‘up & coming’ players will not see West Ham as a final destination, but as a way to showcase their talent.
No shame in that. âď¸
Perhaps this is also why he is playing left wing instead of Summerville if he has it in his contract guaranteed starts ?
” it was always a case of âifâ rather than âwhenâ the winger would leave.”
Really?
Have there been any recent quotes from MK on this, or is the thread still harping back to the falling out with Lopetegui?
Totally agree with the comments made by Sir Alf. I knew Sully from his school days, he was a really smart, sharp kid. I always thought he would be really successful. He is now an old man who hasnât got a clue and following the passing of DG is all alone and surrounded by yes men
This season is over. We wonât go down but neither will be go up the table. Sell Kudus but donât buy anyone till the summer
J-Lo is growing on me. I thought he was a busted flush in November, but the last few weeks I’ve started to think differently.
His altercations with the players lead me to believe that he is stamping his authority onto the squad. It isn’t pretty, and he’s making himself enemies, but it must be done.
Him calling out Kudus was giving out a message to the squad – he wanted to see their reactions – see who was a team player, who could be trusted, and who was in it for themselves.
I hope J-Lo gets the entire season and we don’t replace him in January.
Kudus is as good as gone – too many top teams want him.
You sure about that . He was available for ÂŁ85m in the summer yet no one coughed up then . Very few teams have ÂŁ90m in January. Check out last Januarys spending. Arsenal don’t need him . Ditto Liverpool. Just because it’s being reported. It doesn’t mean it’s happening. Look at us with Duran last summer.
mate, you are on crack, this will not end well.
We dont have a footballing philosophy / style and strategy. We do not have the leadership in Sullivan to see that its needed. We do not have everyone at the club ( owner, board, shareholders, executives, coaches, players ) aligned with a longer term plan. Steidten was âwindow dressingâ to appease Kretinsky but Sullivan still runs the club by âshooting from the hipâ, making it up as he goes like clubs did 30, 40 years or more ago. He has the audacity to sit with his favourite agent Will Salthouse last Saturday confirmung that he is still very much involved in recruitment. Piecemeal, not joined up thinking. We will likely waste any money we get from sales by buying the wring profile of player, ignoring the data analysis and seeing who Salthouse, Silkman and Mackay have on their books or who they can get.
There is no plan. We dont buy with an eye on the future. It will be old, slow or cheaper options.
Sullivan is a failure in footballing terms and always has and always will be. He is financially successful mind via the stadium deal. He wants success, he even stumps up money for it but wastes a lot of it.
It will take a proper DOF with conplete control, implementing and executing a strategy like the Brightons and Bournemouths. It will take a few seasons.
But forget it. We will continue to underachieve. The problem is our owner. He has eyes, ears but is deak and blind to what is needed.
Happy Xmas đĽ´
Sullivan is so predictable if we had pushed on 18 months ago our players would stay and we would still be playing in europe Our ambition is zero imn sorry to say
Sullivan is a c@nt.
The blame stops there, until he ****s off nothing will cahnge and we will continue to go backwards.
How about a new up to date training comlex for xmas, instead of a few put together sheds!
Zero ambition, sucking the air out the fans.
Wasnât it a case of âwhenâ not âifâ?
Quite.
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As Keith said many of us have cried out for the Brighton model, this is it.
He has given us a couple of good years and always seems to try his best and good luck to him. Take the money and try not to buy crocked German strikers with it. We will need at some stage to retain some of the better players but that will only happen if or when we do move to the next level.
Just wished they had shipped out paq-man when city offered 85 mil last year.
Unfortunately, money being spent wisely is not a West Ham trait ! Still canât believe the hapless Lopsy still at the club, what a spineless bunch of losers are Sully and the other clowns who form Billy SmartsâŚâŚ
Sell at a decent profit, 2 good years out him , what’s not to like.
Everybody wanted the Brighton model so here it is.
The only way we will get close to the Brighton model is if we appoint Graham Potter unfortunately at the moment our overall setup is poor and miles behind Brighton
Will be a shame to see him go but as long as the money is spent wisely and not wasted the team should improve.
Durans performance against city on Saturday.. the west ham board really messed up not paying the ÂŁ40m.
Yep that Duran deal woukd of made our season….probably one of the worst they got wrong..then paying 27 for fulkirg is the icing on the cake .đ¤Ł. so so bad …5 mil more and we woukd of had a top striker on our hands ..that boat has sailed now because of there ineptitude