West Ham’s technical director Tim Steidten is reportedly meeting Ajax forward Mohammed Kudus in Amsterdam today as the Premier League giants eye a potential £35 million deal.
It is two weeks now since The Athletic reported that Ajax had agreed a deal with Brighton and Hove Albion for their coveted Ghana international.
But the fact that talks between Mohammed Kudus and Roberto de Zerbi’s side do not appear to have progressed since then give West Ham hope that a hi-jack could be on the cards.
While Kudus appears to have reservations over a move to The Amex, Sky Sports believe that the one-time Everton target is ‘open’ to putting pen to paper with David Moyes’ UEFA Conference League champions.
West Ham have already signed Kudus’ former Ajax team-mate Edson Alvarez this month. Steidten was pictured on a private jet with the Mexican midfielder before the confirmation of his arrival, and the club’s new technical director is jetting out to the Dutch capital again in the hope that Kudus can be convinced to follow in Alvarez’s footsteps.
West Ham hold Ajax talks over Mohammed Kudus
Steitden, FootMercato report, will touch down in Amsterdam today. He will meet Kudus face-to-face, and West Ham will harbour some hope that an agreement can be reached before Chelsea arrive at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Ajax have already accepted a £35 million bid from Brighton. West Ham, then, should be confident of reaching an agreement for a similar fee; Fabrizio Romano reporting that Kudus could replace Manchester City target Lucas Paqueta in Moyes’ squad.
Kudus, tipped to become a ‘world class’ player by former Ghana star George Boeteng, opened his Eredivisie account for 2023/24 as Ajax hammered Heracles last weekend; brilliantly controlling and converting a clever ball into the visitor’s box.
Ajax coach Maurice Steijn, meanwhile, is making no secret of his desire to retain Kudus beyond September’s deadline.
“Of course, I hope he stays,” Steijn told Voetbal Primeur after Kudus found the net in Ajax’s 4-1 opening day victory over Heracles.
“I spoke to him this week. He doesn’t throw his toys out the pram. He trains well.”
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