Thomas Frank is never going to speak out publicly on Tottenham Hotspur’s desire to sign Mohammed Kudus from bitter Premier League rivals West Ham United.
That is just not the way business tends to be concluded these days. And, in Frank, Spurs have got themselves one of the true gentlemen of English football.
However, you only need to go back a few months in order to gain some idea of what the former Brentford boss thinks about a man who could soon become the first since Scott Parker 14 years ago to leave David Sullivan’s clutches and walk into the arms of Daniel Levy.
Fabrizio Romano claims that talks are ongoing between Tottenham and Kudus. Further reports say that the former Ajax ace is open to joining Spurs, seemingly unbothered by what this would mean for his reputation among a West Ham United fanbase whose love has already wavered thanks to a 2024/25 campaign full of underwhelming performances and a few disciplinary issues.
Now, Thomas Frank did not go into great detail regarding his feelings about Kudus back in February. But, clearly, the man who turned Brentford from Championship nearly-men into an established Premier League outfit is a keen admirer of who could become his first marquee addition in charge of the Europa League holders.
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is a fan of West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus
Frank was speaking ahead of West Ham’s 1-0 home defeat by Brentford in the winter.
As it happens, Kudus was hardly at his brilliant best on that February afternoon. Graham Potter felt only Ollie Scarles, James Ward-Prowse and Evan Ferguson performed anywhere near the standards required during another underwhelming outing for a man who ended the season with only five goals and four assists to his name.
Yet, speaking pre-match, Thomas Frank had nothing but praise for a Hammers frontline which, while impressive on paper, became increasingly frustrating in practice.
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“West Ham, in my opinion, offensively and defensively, have clear principles in all phases. They want to control more and more of the ball, and they have some top players,” Frank said. “Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen are really, really good.”
Frank would then reminisce about Bowen’s days at Hull City, having come across the now-West Ham skipper during his own spell in the second tier.
Now, Jarrod Bowen has been heavily linked with Tottenham himself, even if father-in-law Danny Dyer would burn London to the ground to stop that from happening. It is Kudus who now looks destined to take a path walked by a lonely Scott Parker all those years ago, however.
Spurs close in on Kudus as West Ham need the cash
A club source, speaking to Hammers News, confirmed this week that West Ham may have to accept Tottenham’s offer simply because few other clubs are willing to meet that £60 million price-tag.
Cashing in on Kudus feels like a necessary evil, then, for a cash-strapped outfit who must raise funds for new signings.
“A lot of interest in him. 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 says in a Sky Sports update on Tuesday.
“Mohammed Kudus is one of those players.”
McAdam adds that Tottenham turned to Kudus after Bryan Mbeumo chose Manchester United.
“We know there is interest from Tottenham Hotspur,” he explains. “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.”