Newcastle has entered the sweepstakes to sign West Ham star Mohammed Kudus either in January or next summer, joining Arsenal and Liverpool in a £90-million race, according to the Mirror.
The Magpies, contrary to the case of the Gunners and the Reds, are expected to face significant financial hurdles due to ongoing Profit and Sustainability Rule (PSR) constraints, which could force them to pull off more than a few solid player sales to fund any transfer activity.
Howe has identified Kudus as a prime target to bolster Newcastle’s forward line, according to Yaseen Zaman of the Daily Mail. The 24-year-old Ghanaian international joined West Ham from Ajax in a £38 million deal 16 months ago and has impressed with his attacking prowess.
Newcastle scouts, according to Zaman, have tracked Kudus since his teenage days at Danish side FC Nordsjaelland, viewing him as a top-tier addition to fill the club’s need for a quality right-sided forward/winger.
“Newcastle are long-term admirers of Kudus, having tracked the 24-year-old’s progress since his days with Danish side FC Nordsjaellat,” Zaman wrote. “Their scouts were interested in his talents before West Ham secured his signature from Ajax in a £38m deal in 2023.”
Despite the club’s interest, Howe has tempered expectations regarding January activity, citing the club’s delicate financial position.
“I keep saying the same thing about January,” Howe said before facing Leicester on Saturday. “I wouldn’t expect us to be in a position to be too active in the market.
“As we currently stand, 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.”
West Ham’s valuation of Kudus, a minimum of £85 million as stated in his release clause, presents a daunting challenge for all pursuers but mostly for Newcastle, who are still navigating the financial repercussions of PSR.
To fund a potential move for Kudus, Newcastle is reportedly considering selling Miguel Almiron as well as homegrown midfielder Sean Longstaff. If that’d be enough to land Kudus, however, is yet to be known.