As the Saudi Arabian petrodollars are fanned in front of Mohammed Kudus’ face, the West Ham United forward faces up to the biggest test yet of his footballing ambitions.
With Al-Nassr keen to bring Kudus to the Middle East, will the Ghana international disappear off into relative obscurity at the age of 24? Will he become a footnote in the European game, a la former Wolves captain Ruben Neves or one-time La Liga sensation Gabri Veiga?
Or, after West Ham inserted a £125 million release clause for Saudi Arabian clubs into his contract, will Mohammed Kudus instead choose footballing prominence over the sort of weekly wage that would have even Elon Musk nodding in approval?
But as reported West Ham United target Kevin Lomonaco proves, it is possible to resist the so-called ‘generational wealth’ on offer all those thousands of miles away.
Kevin Lomonaco snubs Qatar in West Ham United boost
By his own admission, Kevin Lomonaco is an admirer of West Ham. The Independiente defender is in line for a summer switch to English football – Lomonaco has a £17 million release clause in his contract – and he has already given the Hammers plenty of encouragement in a battle also containing Crystal Palace, Borussia Dortmund and a handful of Serie A outfits.
According to Argentine reporter Uriel Lugt, meanwhile, Lomonaco’s determination to leave South America for Europe even overrides the temptation of a bank-balance boosting departure to the Qatar Stars League.
Al-Duhail, Lugt says, saw their offer rejected by the player even before Independiente had the chance to respond.
“Al-Duhail approached Kevin Lomonaco with a new offer,” he writes. “The defender rejected it, since his intention is to go to Europe. The proposal did not reach Independiente. The Qatari club were willing to pay the release clause of 20 million euros.
“The footballer has been scouted by [clubs in] Italy and England.”
Sergio Aguero called Argentine powerhouse Lomonaco a ‘phenomenon’
Al-Duhail is currently home to former Chelsea and Ajax winger Hakim Ziyech, ex-Lazio talisman Yuri Alberto, and one-time Southampton midfielder Ibrahima Diallo.
Brazil international Lucas Verissimo and Rennes icon Benjamin Bourigeaud also now call the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium home.
As for Lomonaco, reports from South America claim West Ham plan to make a £15 million bid at the opening of the transfer window. One which falls just shy of that release clause, but may be sufficient to get Independiente thinking.
Manchester City legend and former Albiceleste frontman Sergio Aguero is already a paid-up member of the Lomonaco fanclub, meanwhile. He believes that Lionel Scaloni – the one-time West Ham full-back turned World Cup-winning coach – could do worse than to introduce the 23-year-old into the fold.
“He’s a national team player,” Aguero said recently. “[Lomonaco] is fast, strong. A phenomenon. Although the defence is already somewhat built, I think if Scaloni needs him, he’ll call him up.”
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