Even when Tottenham Hotspur are on the verge of signing one of their top summer targets – Mohammed Kudus is leaving West Ham United and crossing the London divide – they still cannot avoid a few strays.
Hammers News have been informed, via football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that chairman David Sullivan ‘buckled’ in negotiations with Daniel Levy this week.
Tottenham are set to sign Mohammed Kudus for £54.5 million. Some £30 million less than the release clause in his West Ham United contract, and at a reduction on the fee Sullivan and co were initially hoping for as well.
Yet, while this feels like a big statement on intent from the Europa League winners – especially after they missed out on both Bryan Mbeumo and Antoine Semenyo – the response from out of Ghana is that Mohammed Kudus is not really taking the ‘upwards step’ many expected of him.
Mohammed Kudus set for Tottenham as ‘bigger club’ Chelsea miss out on West Ham United man
Former Ghana stalwart Laryea Kingston suggests that Tottenham is a move in the right direction – Spurs will be playing Champions League football next season, after all – but not quite the life-changing move many back home were hoping for.
“Mohammed Kudus moving from West Ham to Tottenham is one step in his career,” Kingston tells Sporty FM. “But I was expecting him to move to a bigger club, like Chelsea.”
Stamford Bridge boss Enzo Maresca issued a coy response when asked about Kudus a few days ago. Chelsea did attempt to convince West Ham to let the former Ajax forward move to West London earlier in the window, offering the likes of Jadon Sancho, Axel Disasi and Trevoh Chalobah in exchange.
Kudus had his heart set on joining Tottenham, though. Perhaps he feels that, with Chelsea already snapping up both Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens, a starting berth is more attainable under Thomas Frank than it would be in Maresca’s seemingly-endless roster.
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Former Brentford boss Frank is a confirmed admirer, too, of a man who should be joined at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by Morgan Gibbs-White. Nottingham Forest talisman Gibbs-White is on his way too, after Tottenham triggered the £60 million release clause in his contract.
Former Ghana chief thinks Kudus is ‘more talented than Bukayo Saka’
Kudus’ versatility was a big factor in Tottenham’s pursuit of the mercurial 24-year-old. He can play on the right or the left, through the centre and even as a striker if required.
West Ham hero Carlton Cole believes Bowen’s statistics compare favourably to Bukayo Saka’s at Arsenal, especially considering that he scored a further 13 Premier League goals last season for a club who finished a lowly 14th.
Ibrahim Sannie Daara, the former Communications Director for the Ghana Football Association, believes that Kudus is capable of emulating or even exceeding Saka as well, even if he fell some way short of his best during his second and final year at the London Stadium.