Newcastle are set to fight Arsenal and Liverpool for the superstar's signature
The fee would smash their previous transfer record of £63m for Alexander Isak
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By YASEEN ZAMAN
Published: 18:29 EST, 14 December 2024 | Updated: 18:29 EST, 14 December 2024
Newcastle have joined Arsenal and Liverpool in the race to sign one of the Premier League's most exciting attacking talents, according to a report.
The superstar is valued at a staggering £90million and has an £85m release clause in his contract.
Eddie Howe wants to bolster his forward line as Newcastle lie 11th-place in the Premier League table, having scored just 23 goals - one less than relegation strugglers Wolves.
It is thought that the Magpies will need to make January sales to help finance a deal for West Ham's Mohammed Kudus, according to The Mirror.
Despite Elliot Anderson (£35m) and Yankuba Minteh's (£30m) summer exits, Newcastle still have concerns over potential Premier League Profit and Sustainability (PSR) breaches.
The club are keen to continue axing so-called 'dead wood' to raise funds, with 30-year-old Miguel Almiron a prime candidate to leave St James' Park in the upcoming January transfer window.
Mohammed Kudus is valued at £90m by West Ham and has a whopping £85m release clause
Newcastle are looking at Kudus to help their attack and improve their fortunes in front of goal
Arsenal are also looking to add depth to their forward line behind Bukayo Saka at right wing
Newcastle are long-term admirers of Kudus, having tracked the 24-year-old's progress since his days with Danish side FC Nordsjaellat.
Their scouts were interested in his talents before West Ham secured his signature from Ajax in a £38m deal in 2023.
Eddie Howe is pessimistic about Newcastle's chances of being active in the January window, citing PSR limitations.
Unless significant funds are raised from sales, any potential deal for Kudus would be more likely to happen in summer 2025.
'I keep saying the same thing about January, I wouldn't expect us to be in a position to be too active in the market,' Howe said.
'As we currently stand up, things can change. You know, if we trade players, of course that's different. But if we don't trade players, I would expect us to be quiet.
'Naturally, PSR has had an effect on the club and we haven't been able to strive and reach as quickly as we wanted to initially. That has been halted somewhat in various ways.
'I don't think there's a wish or a want from anyone to sell our best players. We're desperate to take the team forward positively, not step back in any way. The best player we have, they're like gold dust. We've got to cherish them.'
Newcastle UnitedWest Ham United