Tottenham Hotspur is looking to strengthen its attacking lineup, ignoring even the 'tacit agreement' with its London rivals. At the center of this is Mohammed Kudus (25, West Ham United).
The British 'Telegraph' reported on June 30 (Korea time) that "Tottenham is trying to break the unofficial 'transfer embargo' between rival teams. They are keeping an eye on West Ham's Kudus."
The media explained, "Kudus will provide versatile attacking options for Tottenham manager Thomas Frank and, if he joins Tottenham, he will become the first midfielder to transfer from the East London club to Tottenham since Scott Parker in 2011."
Tottenham is trying to break the transfer taboo that has been upheld for the past 14 years. Tottenham and West Ham, both based in the same London, have not made a player transaction since Parker in 2011. Now, Tottenham is looking to lift the unofficial transfer ban and bring Kudus to North London.
The Telegraph explained, "Kudus has been identified as a key target for Tottenham. It is reported that Tottenham is optimistic about securing a transfer for him at an amount significantly lower than the £85 million (approximately 157.8 billion won) release clause, which is said to be valid for the first 10 days of July."
Kudus is a multi-player who can occupy various positions as a forward representing Ghana. Since joining Ajax in 2020, he has established himself as a second striker and attacking midfielder based on his active movement, quick dribbling, and sharp finishing.
Kudus scored 16 goals in 63 appearances in the Netherlands Eredivisie over three seasons at Ajax. He drew significant attention last season, where he scored 11 goals and provided 3 assists in just 30 matches.
He also left a mark in Korean football. Kudus shone against Korea in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. In the second group match of Group H, he shook the Korean net twice, leading Ghana to a 3-2 victory, and was named the official Player of the Match (POTM). Although he couldn’t prevent Ghana from exiting the group stage, Kudus’ performance was dazzling.
After making a strong impression, Kudus joined West Ham for a transfer fee of £40 million (approximately 74.3 billion won) last summer, after receiving several love calls. He has performed as a starting winger for West Ham in the Premier League, showcasing outstanding dribbling and physical abilities. Over two seasons at West Ham, he recorded 80 appearances and 19 goals. However, while he netted all 14 goals in his debut season, he dipped to just 5 goals last season.
Nevertheless, Tottenham, wanting to strengthen its attack, has targeted Kudus. This summer, Tottenham's players, including captain Son Heung-min, as well as Richarlison and Bryan Gil, have been embroiled in transfer rumors. Timo Werner has also returned to Leipzig after finishing his loan. Currently, the only new addition to the squad is Mathys Tel.
The Telegraph reported, "Ghana national team player Kudus will provide Tottenham with experience in the Premier League and Champions League. His ability to play behind the striker will offer Frank plenty of options," adding, "Tottenham has yet to make an offer to Kudus. The club needs to fund acquisitions through player sales. There is also a possibility of receiving new investments from either the owner or outside the club."
Of course, Kudus is not the only attacker Tottenham is interested in. Tottenham is also eyeing Bryan Mbeumo, Antoine Semenyo, and Eberechi Eze, but for now, Kudus is being mentioned as the most likely candidate.
West Ham is also willing to part with Kudus. According to the Telegraph, West Ham needs to reorganize the squad and secure finances under the management of Graham Potter, who took over as a firefighter last season. Kudus is reportedly open to a move within London. If he joins Tottenham, he could be a direct replacement for Son Heung-min or Richarlison.
According to 'Talk Sport,' Tottenham is optimistic that they could bring Kudus for around £60 million (approximately 114.5 billion won). However, Kudus is also exploring the possibility of a move to Chelsea and has drawn interest from Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr. Chelsea is finalizing the signings of Jamie Gittens and João Pedro, so Al Nassr is expected to be Tottenham's serious rival.
It is uncertain how local fans in England will react to Kudus' potential transfer to Tottenham. For now, West Ham fans are likely to be furious. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy personally blocked Emmanuel Adebayor's move to West Ham in 2015, and since then, the two teams have not sat down at the negotiation table.
Additionally, Tottenham fans also have unfavorable memories of Kudus. Last October, during a match against Tottenham, he kicked Micky van de Ven and pushed Papé Sarr's face, resulting in his dismissal. Richarlison, who tried to intervene to stop the situation, was also knocked down after taking a hit to the head.
Ultimately, Kudus received a severe penalty from the English Football Association (FA), consisting of a five-match ban and a £60,000 (approximately 111 million won) fine. However, Kudus and Tottenham want to start anew and forget the past. According to Paul O'Keefe, who is well-versed in Tottenham news, the club has made him a priority target and has already offered a transfer fee of £50 million (approximately 92.8 billion won), but it was rejected.
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), 433, Spurs Global, Tottenham News, Hassan Karim, Sky Sports.
[OSEN]