West Ham United transfer for Mohammed Kudus may stall with new Arsenal twist
Adrian Clarke has suggested Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus’ potential move to West Ham may be held up by interest from Arsenal.
Clarke claimed that Kudus’ head may have been turned by rumours of interest from the North London club, as he may be waiting for an official move by the Gunners before committing his future elsewhere.
West Ham have reportedly had an offer worth around £35million turned down for Kudus, despite Ajax accepting a £34.5million offer from Brighton earlier in the transfer window, which shocked the Hammers [Sky Sports].
Speaking on the Handbreak Off podcast, as shared by football.london, the hosts speculated over Kudus’ future, suggesting: “You just never know whether someone like that [Kudus] is just hanging about because something like that [a move to Arsenal] might happen late.”
Clarke then claimed: “There’s got to be a reason why he hasn’t gone to Brighton because I thought that was a done deal. But if you’re Kudus and you think, ‘Well there’s a chance of going to Arsenal, I better hold off’. That might be it, that might be, like you say we’re speculating.”
Speculation means nothing
The podcast hosts are correct in their statement that Arsenal is a name that keeps being brought up in recent reports surrounding Kudus’ move to West Ham. However, any suggestion that the deal is delayed because of Arsenal’s interest is almost certainly wide of the mark.
The midfielder’s move to Brighton fell apart due to the club being unable to agree personal terms with the player, while Ajax reportedly imposed a deadline on the South Coast club which they failed to meet before the Eredivisie season began.
For West Ham, the delays in the deal come from the club’s reluctance to meet Ajax’s asking price. The difference in valuations is said to be around £3-5million, with the Hammers still in talks despite suggestions the deal could be placed on hold.
West Ham are still the frontrunners in their efforts to sign Kudus, despite interest from both Arsenal and Chelsea, although neither side has acted on their reported interest so far.
In other West Ham news, a Premier League club have received a fresh transfer windfall after West Ham deal.