There may have been a huge twist to the Premier League relegation battle after West Ham were ironically boosted by a fresh setback suffered by Tottenham Hotspur’s Mohammed Kudus.
West Ham could have the last laugh over bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur when it comes to Mohammed Kudus.
The Hammers were taunted by Tottenham when they signed Kudus in a £54.5m deal last summer – but now he could be a big factor in Spurs being relegated.
West Ham and Tottenham are locked in a four-way relegation battle with Leeds and Forest to avoid joining Wolves and Burnley in the Championship.
West Ham boost as Kudus is ruled out for the season after Spurs setback
The Hammers will climb out of the bottom three with a win over Wolves on Friday night, pushing Spurs into the danger zone in the process.
Tottenham then face a difficult trip to Sunderland for Roberto De Zerbi’s first game in charge.
This team stays up ahead of Spurs 😎
Only debate is Dinos or Todibo….
West Ham have mixed feelings about Tottenham appointing De Zerbi, with the hope being the Italian takes time to get the team going.
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There have also been concerns in east London that Kudus will help turn Tottenham’s fortunes around as he makes his way back from a long-term injury.
Kudus had been pencilled in for a potential return at Sunderland having been back in training.
But now there has been an ironic boost for West Ham as Spurs suffer a serious new Kudus blow.
Kudus had hardly been setting the world alight with Tottenham since they goaded the Hammers about taking the Ghanaian winger off their hands.
He was however one of Tottenham’s better performers, highlighted by the fact they haven’t won a game since he suffered his injury.
How worried should we be about De Zerbi joining Tottenham? 😟
It seems Spurs won’t be able to bank on Kudus helping them to survival in the final seven games, though, because he has suffered a setback which could require surgery – ruling him out for the rest of the season and possibly the World Cup too.
The 25-year-old has been out since January with related quad and hamstring injuries.
The Sun claims the new issue is related to Kudus’ quad again and sources suggest he may have to go under the knife.
It is reported that Kudus is ‘gutted’ by the setback as it could impact his chances of helping his club in the Premier League and his country at the World Cup.
Not that he will find much sympathy at his former club West Ham, where he has been christened ‘Judus’ for pushing to join the club’s rivals before declaring ‘he only wanted Spurs’ and has ‘Tottenham in his heart’.
Kudus had scored just three goals in 26 appearances for Tottenham following his move from West Ham.
The Hammers were open to selling the talented winger after a poor second season with the club in which he registered just five goals from 35 appearances.
Whatever one’s stance on Kudus as a player, there is no doubting he can be a match-winner on his day.
West Ham fans know that as well as anyone after a scintillating first season with the club following his £38m move from Ajax.
So his absence can only improve West Ham’s chances of Premier League survival and have the opposite effect on Tottenham.