West Ham beat Chelsea to sign Mohammed Kudus from Ajax but now they are looking to Stamford Bridge to replace him.
Mohammed Kudus came close to signing for Chelsea before the Hammers landed him in a £38.5m deal from Ajax.
Brighton and Arsenal were in the mix too but West Ham were able to win the race by agreeing to include an £85m release clause in his contract.
That is active next summer.
But Kudus has cut a frustrated figure under Julen Lopetegui and the Hammers have this week admitted he could even be sold in January.
A spokesman for West Ham’s owners told Hammers News the club would want over £100m to let Kudus leave in the January transfer window.
That money would go towards a new striker and a Kudus replacement.
And that’s where Chelsea come in.
The Irons held talks with Premier League rivals Chelsea over several players in the summer.
Blues chief Todd Boehly even offered Raheem Sterling to the Hammers.
West Ham were also linked with Trevoh Chalobah, David Datro Fofana and made a last ditch move for Carney Chukwuemeka.
Maresca boosts West Ham’s hopes of signing Kudus replacement
None of the deals were done in the end but one of them could be very much back on.
Chelsea have been magnificent under former West Ham assistant boss Enzo Maresca.
The Italian has been direct when it comes to who is – and isn’t – part of his plans at Chelsea.
That bluntness now looks like it could seriously benefit the Hammers.
Because Maresca has boosted West Ham’s hopes of signing a Kudus replacement as Chelsea set their price.
When the Hammers made a move for Chukwuemeka on the last day of the summer window it raised eyebrows.
Hammers to try again for Chukwuemeka
Many thought it was odd and that the Hammers didn’t need the midfielder.
Fast forward to the January window and it is now perfectly clear that West Ham desperately need a player like the Chelsea outcast.
Chukwuemeka has all the attributes Lopetegui needs in a Hammers midfield sorely lacking in athleticism, pace, power and guile.
The 21-year-old can play both centrally and out wide.
He is athletic, skilful and can really get around the pitch.
A couple of months ago, Maresca praised Chukwuemeka’s talent but admitted he should leave to get games elsewhere.
Now Maresca has doubled down on those comments, saying Chukwuemeka will be one of the first who wants to leave next month – and he will try to help make that happen.
Chukwuemeka to leave says boss as Chelsea set price
“There are players who didn’t play a lot with us in, like Chilwell and Carney,” the Chelsea boss said.
“So probably they are the first who want to leave.
“We will try to find a solution.”
The problem for West Ham is they will have to be prepared to pay it seems.
Journalist Ben Jacobs says Chelsea could want as much as £40m for Chukwuemeka in January.
Although a loan deal with an option or obligation to buy deal may also be possible.
If West Ham do sell Kudus for the price they want then they will have plenty of money to send Chelsea’s way for Chukwuemeka.
Whether that’s the best use of that money is open to debate.
But he is exactly the profile of player West Ham should be looking at as part of their rebuild – which technical director Tim Steidten vowed would be around young, versatile, athletic talent.
Some West Ham fans are torn over Kudus.
He is without doubt the club’s most talented individual.
But his form and attitude this season has been questioned.
Kudus has been spotted showing dissent towards Lopetegui on several occasions.
The pair had a bust-up at half-time of a draw at Brentford a few months ago.
West Ham’s star boy has looked frustrated at being played out of position on the left.
Something may have to give in January and if West Ham do push for Chukwuemeka then it looks like a deal is very much there to be done.
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