Ajax coach John Heitinga is delighted with the ‘exceptional’ Mohammed Kudus after his former employers Everton missed out on the chance to bring the Ghana international to the Premier League, speaking to Voetbal Primeur.
Going into this season, Kudus had scored just five times in 42 appearances for the Amsterdam giants. Few, at the time, would have seen his rapid-fire emergence as a prolific goalscorer coming.
But, while Alfred Schreuder’s short-lived spell as Ajax’s head coach won’t be remembered too fondly by anyone at the Johan Cruyff Arena, it should not be forgotten that it was he who had the bright idea of turning Kudus from a box-to-box midfielder into a predatory, goal-poaching centre-forward.
No one in Ajax’s squad has scored more than Kudus’ 14 this term; the one-time Norsjaelland starlet enhancing his already impressive tally during Sunday’s 3-1 win at RKC Waalwijk.
Everton missed out on Ajax star Mohammed Kudus
“He plays with a lot of confidence,” says Heitinga, the one-time Everton defender now in temporary charge following Schreuder’s departure.
“We know he has exceptional qualities. It’s up to me and the staff to make him even better, especially off the ball. On the ball, he can beat a man, create an overload, provide assists and score. I think that we can be happy that Kudus plays at Ajax.”
But for how much longer?
According to 90Min, Arsenal and Newcastle lodged enquiries for the £40 million-rated Kudus after the Qatar World Cup, while Manchester United have held initial talks to add another Eredivisie import to Erik ten Hag’s squad.
Kudus himself, meanwhile, admits to have come ‘really close to joining Everton’ during the summer of 2021; the Toffees eventually seeing a potential £15 million deal collapse.
How Sean Dyche could do with a player of Kudus’ oh-so varied skillset; relegation-threatened Everton now the lowest goalscorers in the whole of the Premier League.
“Kudus is a somewhat modest boy. He’s calm, but it’s nice that he’s coming loose on the field now,” adds Ajax team-mate Steven Berghuis.
“The moment really seems to have arrived. Sometimes, I’m amazed at what this boy can do. These are guys who can make the difference.”
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