There has been a huge twist as Ajax boss insists Mohammed Kudus won’t join West Ham until deadline day if at all.
Nothing is ever straightforward when it comes to West Ham and transfers is it?
Earlier today we reported comments from Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol who says West Ham can be ‘cautiously optimistic’ about signing prime target Mohammed Kudus from Ajax.
Solhekol said West Ham were ‘very close’ to getting a deal wrapped up in the coming days.
That came after Hammers News exclusively revealed last night having spoken to our most senior source inside the club that there was real hope of signing Kudus with West Ham and the Dutch giants ‘still talking’.
Huge twist as Ajax boss insists Mohammed Kudus won’t join West Ham until deadline day if at all
Journalist David Ornstein confirmed that news by claiming West Ham are ‘on the verge’ of agreeing a deal with Ajax and Kudus over an initial £38m, five-year deal.
West Ham fans are seriously excited about the prospect of signing the 23-year-old Ghana star.
But reports on Sky Sports news earlier today stated a West Ham “insider” had told them the chances of signing Kudus had been reduced to “50-50” following interest from other clubs, including some in Saudi Arabia.
Now someone very influential on the other side of this particular deal has had his say.
And there’s a huge twist as Ajax’s boss insists Kudus won’t join West Ham until deadline day if at all.
Ajax are playing Ludogorets in the first leg of a two-legged Europa League qualifier on Thursday night.
The second leg is in Amsterdam next Thursday – August 31st.
Their manager Maurice Steijn says Kudus WILL play in both legs of the crucial qualifier.
‘It’s very clear, he will be there for this two-match fixture’
And that means he will not be able to join West Ham until the summer transfer window deadline day when the Hammers would face a race against time to get the deal done and registered before the 11pm cut off.
Steijn admits he cannot control if Kudus will eventually be sold but says the 23-year-old attacker will play in these two fixtures.
“It is very clear that he will be there for this two-match fixture,” he told VTBL.
“I hope he stays with us. As for the rest, that’s something on Sven (Mislintat)’s plate – in combination with potentially interested clubs. That goes beyond me.
“Everyone within the club and also Mo himself knows that I very much want him to stay.”
The logistics if Kudus does play in both legs could suddenly become very difficult for West Ham.
Let’s hope this is nothing more than brinkmanship from Ajax.