There was a point earlier in the year when it appeared, albeit briefly, that Mohammed Kudus could leave West Ham United, join Cristiano Ronaldo, and become the second-most expensive sale in Premier League history in the process.
Mohammed Kudus has no fewer than three separate release clauses in his West Ham United contract, after all.
An £80 million clause available for clubs on the European mainland. An £85 million clause for rival Premier League teams. And a £125 million clause for sides based in the petrodollar money pit that is the Saudi Pro League.
If Al-Nassr or another of those deep-pocketed, nouveau-riche Middle Eastern outfits were to trigger that final clause, Kudus would find himself sitting behind only former Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho in the list of the Premier League’s biggest-ever sales.
There has been a feeling for a while, however, that West Ham are happy to negotiate a lower fee with Kudus’ Saudi Arabian suitors. The Hammers will not hold out for a Declan Rice sort of sum. But the chance to almost double their money for a player who joined from Ajax for just shy of £40 million, well that is something which will hold plenty of appeal.
And here is where Cristiano Ronaldo comes in.
Cristiano Ronaldo could decide if Al-Nassr sign West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus
While reports that Kylian Mbappe briefly became a de-facto sporting director during his final season at Paris Saint-Germain proved to be a little overblown, negotiations between Al-Nassr and the eternal Portuguese prince appear to have seen Ronaldo handed considerable control over the club’s recruitment policy.
No wonder speculation surrounding a move for Manchester United veteran and Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Casemiro has reared its head again this week.
Mohammed Kudus was linked with Al-Nassr himself back in April. Provided that interest remains, and the reports were true, Kudus can maybe expect a phone call from one Cristiano Ronaldo over the coming weeks.
“‘CR7’ has received all the necessary guarantees from the PIF [the Saudi Investment Fund] to build a competitive [Al-Nassr roster],” reporter Santi Aouna explains, shedding some light on an arrangement which sees Ronaldo take on a dual-role as centre-forward and primary squad-builder at Al-Awwal Park.
“He will be the main decision-maker in the summer transfer window.”
Aouna reports that Al-Nassr have placed a left-winger near the top of their wishlist. That is the position Kudus featured in most frequently during the 2024/25 campaign, even if his most effective performances have tended to come in a more central or right-sided role.
West Ham want £65m-plus after turning down Jadon Sancho in Chelsea talks
Hammers News understands that West Ham turned their nose up at Jadon Sancho when Chelsea offered the on-loan Manchester United misfit as part of a deal that would have seen Kudus make the short trip to Stamford Bridge.
Axel Disasi, Robert Sanchez, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Trevoh Chalobah also featured in the discussions.
West Ham have ruled out selling Kudus to Arsenal for a cut-price £50 million, meanwhile.
Typically, Daniel Levy is keen to bring Kudus to Tottenham on the cheap too. This, for a variety of reasons, is obviously something those in charge at West Ham will not consider even for a moment.
“We would not sell him for under £65m,” a senior spokesman for the West Ham board exclusively told Hammers News recently.
“There is lots of interest.”
Newcastle, Manchester United and Liverpool have also been linked.
Some have also suggested that Mohammed Kudus could join Saudi Pro League newcomers Neom SC, meanwhile, reuniting with Said Benrahma in the process.
Benrahma has been a revelation in Saudi Arabia following his £12 million arrival from crisis-hit Lyon.
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