Graham Potter faces a real head-scratching dilemma regarding West Ham United forward Mohammed Kudus.
A mercurial talent on his day, Mohammed Kudus has produced some sensational moments in a West Ham shirt over the past 18 months, since he moved to the London Stadium from Ajax in the summer of 2023.
However, he has disappointed in equal measure in my opinion.
And now Graham Potter will be the latest manager tasked with getting the best out of Kudus.
The Ghanaian was linked with a mega move to Arsenal in the January window, but he remained with the Hammers in the end.
The 24-year-old obviously has a profile that is attracting some of the biggest clubs in the world.
The question must be asked though – is he really good enough to play for a top four Premier League side, or a club in the upper echelons of European football?
Potter recently opened up about the need for balance in Kudus’s game, and he’s right.
Not only does the Ghana international need to improve defensively, but he must learn to make better decisions inside the final third.
And now Potter may well have a big problem lying in wait for him.
Mohammed Kudus gives Graham Potter a big dilemma to solve
Potter has a big issue lying in wait for him at the end of the season in my opinion.
It’s common knowledge that Kudus has an £85 million release clause inserted into his contract – one that becomes active in the summer.
There have been numerous rumours surrounding his future at West Ham, as mentioned earlier, with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool apparently keen to sign him.
However, the Ghana international has been in terrible form so far this season. He only has three goals and one assist to his name in 19 games for the Hammers this term.
His decision making inside the final third leaves a lot to be desired. He plays very much with his head down and his final product just hasn’t been there.
That leaves Potter with a big problem on his hands.
Now he has to either try and get the best out of Kudus or move him on in the summer, for a reduced fee.
Because I promise you now, there will not be any clubs willing to commit to such a large transfer fee for him after his performances for the Hammers this season.
Why West Ham should sell Mohammed Kudus
I personally don’t think the Ghanaian is a good fit for Potter’s system.
It seems like the Hammers head coach will be moving forward with a 3-4-3, a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-2-1 system, whatever way you look at it.
And I have to be honest, I just don’t see where Kudus fits in.
Evan Ferguson will clearly be our number one striker, and Jarrod Bowen starts every single week if he is fit, there is no debating that.
Lucas Paqueta’s recent form means that he’s undroppable and will almost certainly be used in and around Ferguson, in order to help get the best out of the Irishman.
Gone are the days when elite managers try to shoe-horn their best players into the team.
There is no point in Graham Potter trying to do that with Mohammed Kudus, especially if he is so intent on developing a culture at the club whereby the team comes first, rather than talented individuals.
Kudus is a very exciting player to watch on his day, but his end product is severely lacking.
The main problem the Hammers have now is there probably won’t be too many clubs, if any, that are interested in paying anything like £85 million for him.
So will Potter sell him on the cheap in the summer or rejig his formation and system to suit the mercurial attacker?
That’s the big dilemma that the Hammers boss faces.
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