‘So good’: Ryan Babel wowed by £8m man Newcastle and Tottenham missed out on

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Everton and Tottenham Hotspur missed out on Mohammed Kudus and his exciting start at Ajax has Ryan Babel convinced the Eredivisie giants have another star on their hands, speaking to Liverpool’s official website.

Much of the talk on Merseyside ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League clash tonight may be focused on Ajax’s evergreen Dusan Tadic or the cat-like reflexes of goalkeeper Andre Onana.

But a mouth-watering tie at the Johan Cruyff Arena could be the night a 20-year-old star announces himself on the European stage.

An £8 million summer signing from Nordsjaelland, Kudus was Ajax’s star man during the 5-1 thrashing of Heerenveen last time out, producing a pair of pinpoint assists either side of a wonderfully well-taken goal of his own.

And Babel believes a man who was on the radar of Tottenham (FM) and Everton (HBVL) before enrolling in the famous Ajax finishing school could be a major threat to a Liverpool defence that has been breached nine times in their last two outings.

“Kudus came from Nordsjaelland and is already a fans’ favourite,” says the former Anfield wideman of a Ghanaian number 10 who has adapted brilliantly to a deeper role at Ajax.

“The player that stands out to me is Kudus in midfield. He’s very energetic and so good with and without the ball, always making things happen for Ajax.

“He’s definitely one to watch.”

In April, Ghana Soccernet reported Newcastle United’s prospective new owners had identified the so-called ‘new Michael Essien’ as a player capable of leading the Magpies into an exciting new era.

But as soon as the Saudi-backed takeover stalled, Ajax snapped up one of Europe’s most exciting midfielders from beneath Newcastle’s nose.