Graham Potter risks costing West Ham millions over Mohammed Kudus with his refreshing honesty – but saves the situation.
Mohammed Kudus has been so poor for West Ham this season, he had the owners desperately watching on in hope when he went away with Ghana over the international break.
If anyone had told Hammers chief David Sullivan that Kudus would be going in to the last nine games of the Premier League season with a paltry three goals to his name, he would have laughed them out of town.
Not only is that the reality for West Ham and their faded star boy, it is no laughing matter.
Astonishingly for a player of his clear talent, Kudus has not scored for West Ham since a 1-1 draw against Brighton in December.
West Ham’s major Kudus problem
It is some fall from grace after his scintillating debut season which saw him score 14 goals and lay on six assists for West Ham.
Throw in the fact he has had a big bust-up with a manager and complete head loss during a game against Spurs which earned him a five-game ban and clubs are probably relieved they did not shell out £85m to trigger his release clause last summer.
Julen Lopetegui was blamed for Kudus’ struggles. It may be that the hapless Spaniard set the ball rolling on Kudus’ second season syndrome.
But hopes that the appointment of Graham Potter might spark Kudus into life have proved fanciful as the same struggles persist.
West Ham’s owners admitted they ‘especially need Kudus to start scoring’ before he went off to play for Ghana.
The reason why is clear.
As a result of PSR, the Hammers desperately need to raise as much money as possible from player sales this summer in order to back Potter with signings to reshape the squad.
Kudus has been the club’s most saleable asset for some time with offloading the likes of Jarrod Bowen a complete non-starter.
So the Hammers board is desperate to see Kudus end the season strongly.
There was relief when the 24-year-old did indeed end a year-long goal drought for Ghana.
And it seemed to have the desired effect as far as West Ham are concerned.
Potter makes brutal and risky Kudus West Ham admission
In the days after, Al-Nassr have made it known they are ready to bid £84 million for Kudus this summer, according to Ben Jacobs on Give Me Sport.
That would instantly plug West Ham’s PSR black hole and the summer transfer window will suddenly become a hugely exciting one for Potter and Kyle Macaulay.
So any board members watching the manager’s latest press conference would have had their hearts in mouths.
Because Potter made a brutal and risky Kudus West Ham admission – but Al-Nassr will love what he said next.
The last thing West Ham can afford to do now is jeopardise mega rich Al-Nassr’s Kudus interest in any way, shape or form.
But something fans have enjoyed since Potter’s appointment has been his clarity in communication and considered views on matters.
When asked about Kudus in his pre-Wolves presser, the Hammers boss did not beat around the bush.
Potter admits Kudus has had a disappointing season where he has not lived up to his high standards.
However, he has made it clear he brings more to the table than just numbers.
And he reassured any would-be suitors like Al-Nassr that there are no issues with Kudus’ discipline or attitude.
Potter also sent a clear message to his Saudi suitors that it won’t take much for Kudus to explode back to his best again.
£84m Kudus suitors Al-Nassr will love what Potter said next
“Yea (Kudus has struggled), I think he’s probably had a season that – from his perspective – would be a little bit disappointing,” Potter said.
“And it’s for different reasons, not because his lack of effort or anything like that – just sometimes these things happen.
“Speaking personally he’s been great with us in terms of how he’s worked every day, fantastic.
“He’s built his fitness up, built his condition up to the point where he can sustain things a lot better now.
“Football can go like that sometimes. You can have a little spell where it doesn’t quite happen for you in front of goal or that final pass just doesn’t quite get there.
“But it doesn’t take much to turn that around because how he contributed against Arsenal for example in our win there, even though he didn’t score or assist, he was a top, top player in that game and massively helped us.
“So the numbers do say something – but there’s also other aspects of his performance that have been really, really good.”
Sullivan would have been breaking out in a cold sweat listening to the first part of Potter’s Kudus admission.
But he pulled it around at the end.
Now West Ham will hope a strong finish can bring in that summer-saving bid.
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