Forward steps are being taken at West Ham United, both regarding incomings and outgoings. But there are still big strides to be taken before Mohammed Kudus secures a controversial switch to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur for instance.
This week, speculation regarding a shock move across London went into overdrive.
No player has swapped West Ham United for Tottenham Hotspur since Scott Parker 14 years ago. Mohammed Kudus could snap that trend, however.
While Chelsea are not out of the Kudus race just yet, Tottenham have entered talks with the Ghana international.
But, like with West Ham’s pursuit of Slavia Prague left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, things do not appear to be as advanced behind the scenes as some in the media would have you believe.
David Ornstein does not think Tottenham move is close for West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus
The uber-reliable David Ornstein, speaking on The Athletic’s transfer podcast on Saturday, appears to believe that Kudus is not so much the priority target at Spurs, but instead ‘one of the options’ being considered.
“They have a reported interest in him,” Ornstein says. “We don’t know of it being more than him being one of the options they’re considering.”
Then again, it is probably no coincidence that Tottenham appeared to have upped the pace in recent days.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Bryan Mbeumo is on the verge of finally joining Manchester United, rejecting Spurs’ advances in the process. Antoine Semenyo, another with admirers in North London, also signed a new deal at AFC Bournemouth.
So if Kudus was not the primary target at the start of the window, he may be now.
“We’ve reported that they enquired about Antoine Semenyo at Bournemouth having previously liked Bryan Mbeumo. Semenyo has signed a new contract,” Ornstein adds. “So yeah, Kudus is in the orbit of clubs like Tottenham.
“West Ham might need to sell a player and he’s their most obvious asset.
“I think Tottenham would carry appeal to someone like him, Champions League football and staying in London, but there will be other options as well.
“I don’t think this one is close to a conclusion as of yet.”
Chelsea remain in Kudus race but Newcastle United move unlikely
New Spurs boss Thomas Frank is a confirmed admirer of Mohammed Kudus.
A source close to the West Ham board, speaking to Hammers News this week, admits that the 2023 Conference League champions would rather not sell such a talented footballer to such bitter rivals.
However, with Kudus rejecting a move to Saudi Arabia, with Chelsea and Manchester United prioritising other attacking targets, Tottenham are one of few clubs remaining who may be willing to hand West Ham the £60 million they went.
Kudus is well down the list at Newcastle, too.
West Ham maybe have to get creative, they maybe have to sell a few players to give Graham Potter the funds to go and invest and re-shape that squad,” reporter Mark McAdam said on Sky Sports a few days ago.
“Mohammed Kudus is one of those players.
“We know there is interest from Tottenham Hotspur. We know that they are looking to try and add players out wide. They want a versatile forward threat which Mohammed Kudus would be, someone who can play in multiple positions across the frontline.
“We know that Chelsea are at the table,” the report concludes. “Despite signing Jamie Gittens, they are looking potentially at Mohammed Kudus as well.
“And Newcastle also have him on their list, although I think he’s a little further down on their list.”