West Ham close to finalizing Mohammed Kudus transfer

• Premier League side West Ham have seen two bids for Mohammed Kudus fail 
• West Ham manager David Moyes is keen on completing Kudus’ transfer after Scamacca left the club
• Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, and Mavropanos have already joined West Ham this summer

West Ham United appears to be edging closer to securing the services of Mohammed Kudus from Ajax as negotiations between the two clubs intensify.

West Ham’s initial attempts to sign the attacking midfielder were met with resistance from Ajax, who turned down two offers, the latest being valued at €40 million (£34 million) with additional performance-based add-ons. However, the pressing need to bolster their attacking options has driven West Ham to persist in their pursuit of Kudus. Manager David Moyes and Technical Director Tim Steidten are both keen on bringing him to the London Stadium.

Recent reports suggest that West Ham has made a third bid to Ajax in their quest to secure Kudus’ signature. Ajax had previously agreed on a fee with Brighton & Hove Albion for the player earlier in the summer, an arrangement worth €41 million initially, with an additional €3 million in add-ons (£35 million + £2.5 million). However, Kudus himself halted the move. Presently, there is a belief that Ajax may accept West Ham’s latest offer, especially considering that Ajax themselves had countered West Ham’s previous bid with a proposal of €50 million.

West Ham United is closing in on the transfer of Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus after two failed bids. | PHOTO: Guardian |

READ: James Ward-Prowse completes move to West Ham

One significant factor in the negotiations appears to be the willingness of the Conference League champions to adjust the terms of payment for the transfer. Initially, West Ham had proposed a payment plan to Ajax that spanned five years. However, they have now put forth an offer deemed more favorable to the Eredivisie giants. Furthermore, the proposed deal includes a 10% sell-on clause, stipulating that Ajax would be entitled to a share of any future sale of Kudus if it exceeds €50 million.

While personal terms are not anticipated to be a hurdle in this transfer, West Ham will need to finalize the specifics of wages and bonus structures in collaboration with Kudus and his representatives.

West Ham’s midfield has seen notable changes this summer with the additions of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse. These acquisitions followed the high-profile sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal for a substantial £105 million. Recently, West Ham secured Konstantinos Mavropanos as their third significant signing of the summer, securing the defender from VfB Stuttgart on a five-year contract.

As the negotiations for Mohammed Kudus unfold, West Ham’s ambition to bolster their squad for the upcoming season remains steadfast, driven by the desire to maintain their competitive edge in the Premier League.