Premier League rivals Liverpool and Everton are competing for Mohammed Kudus with Kevin-Prince Boateng telling Sport1 that his fellow Ghana international is ‘currently the best player at the World Cup’.
History has a funny way of repeating itself, at times.
Beat Uruguay, Luis Suarez’s Uruguay, and Ghana will secure a spot in the last-16 on Friday afternoon. Considering the events of that 2010 quarter-final, sending Suarez and co packing could hardly be a more fitting way for the ‘Black Stars’ to confirm their place in the knockout stages.
Whatever happens, Ajax’s Kudus will be central to Ghana’s hopes of a well-timed win over the 1930 World Cup winners. He took his tally to 12 goals for club and country this season with a decisive brace during the dramatic 3-2 win over South Korea last time out. That came on the back of an exhilarating second display half against Portugal.
Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool and Everton watch Mohammed Kudus at World Cup
“Kudus is currently the best player at the World Cup,” says Boeteng, the former Tottenham, Barcelona and AC Milan midfielder.
“It’s incredible what he can do with the ball. It’s only a matter of time before he moves on to a world-class club after his experience at Ajax.”
According to 90Min, Arsenal and Newcastle United expressed an interest in Kudus on the back of his Man of the Match display against South Korea. Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton are also keeping tabs on the fleet-footed 22-year-old over in Qatar. The Toffees are long-time admirers of the former Nordsjaelland talisman.
Barcelona like Kudus
Director Jordi Cryuff, meanwhile, admits to RAC1 that the Barcelona giants are ‘following’ Kudus too.
“I saw him play a year ago. And I have followed his progress at Ajax,” Cruyff explains.
The Barca chief then plays down talk of an imminent move for a forward who was ‘very close’ to joining Everton over the summer.
“But we’re not at the point of saying ‘Barca want this player.’ Not at all,” Cruyff adds.
“He is a player that has caught the attention with his performances and goals at the World Cup. He’s caught my attention, especially because there is a debate in the Netherlands about his position; whether he’s an advanced midfielder or a forward.”
“Right now, we cannot sign in January.”
“I was really close to joining Everton,” Kudus admitted a couple of weeks ago. “I thought it was a good project for me and I felt I should try it. It wasn’t like this season was my first (at Ajax), it was my third. So if I’m not getting the progress I’m looking for then why not try something else?”
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