David Ornstein has confirmed the best news yet of West Ham’s window as the statement signing of Mohammed Kudus is all but sealed.
West Ham fans who went to bed early last night are waking up to brilliant news this morning.
There were claims from various sources, including Sky Sports, yesterday that West Ham were going to walk away from the Mohammed Kudus negotiations with Ajax.
It was reported the Hammers were ‘still weighing up’ whether to submit another bid for the Ghana star.
But that was not the case as Hammers News exclusively revealed last night after speaking to a most senior source inside the club who insisted there was hope of signing Kudus as West Ham and Ajax were ‘still talking’.
And those talks bore fruit for technical director Tim Steidten and the Hammers.
Because David Ornstein has confirmed the best news yet of West Ham’s window as the statement signing of Kudus is all but sealed.
The Athletic journalist says West Ham are ‘on the verge’ of agreeing a deal with the Dutch club and Kudus.
“The Premier League club have submitted an official offer worth €41m plus €3m in add-ons (£35m + £2.56m) in a deal that would include a 10% sell-on clause,” Ornstein wrote on The Athletic last night.
“The proposal is expected to be accepted by their Eredivisie counterparts.
“Personal terms are in place for the 23-year-old to sign a five-year deal with the option of a sixth.”
This will be a true statement signing if West Ham do indeed pull it off.
West Ham fans are too long in the tooth and scarred from past experience to celebrate Kudus’ arrival until they see him holding up that claret and blue shirt.
But this is fantastic news and a player of immense power, pace and ability who has been coveted and considered by other top clubs.
West Ham’s bigwigs deserve great credit if Kudus signs because they appear to have spent the Declan Rice money very wisely indeed.
There is no debate that the team is stronger now in all areas with Rice being replaced by Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse, Konstantinos Mavropanos and now – pending a full agreement and successful medical – Kudus too.
If West Ham can now land a striker and complete the free transfer of Jesse Lingard then it will have been a superb summer transfer window.