Mohammed Kudus has left many West Ham fans stunned by speaking out after claims he has already chosen between Arsenal and Liverpool for a summer move.
It has been one of the worst kept secrets in football that West Ham are gearing up to sell Mohammed Kudus this summer.
Both Arsenal and Liverpool have been heavily linked with Kudus – even before he joined West Ham from Ajax in a £38.5m deal in the summer of 2023.
In fact one of the reasons the Hammers were able to beat Arsenal to Kudus’ signature was because they were spent out after sending £105m to east London for Declan Rice.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot and Gunners manager Mikel Arteta have both pledged to make their teams even stronger this summer.
Liverpool and Arsenal vying to sign West Ham’s Kudus
That has seen speculation reignite that Kudus could be bound for Anfield or the Emirates.
West Ham are insisting they have to sell players to fund Graham Potter’s rebuild this summer after reaching their PSR limit.
The Hammers insist Jarrod Bowen, who has been heavily linked with Liverpool in recent seasons, is not for sale.
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That leaves Kudus as West Ham’s most valuable and saleable asset, despite his poor form this term after a superb debut season where he provided 20 goal contributions.
Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Newcastle and Saudi clubs were all among those being linked with the Hammers attacker.
Photo by Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Arsenal pulled out of the race for West Ham ace Kudus behind the scenes when Andrea Berta was appointed as sporting director.
But links to Liverpool have persisted, especially after Slot raved about Kudus following West Ham’s recent defeat at Anfield.
It was even revealed that Liverpool’s players, including captain Virgil van Dijk, have been urging the club to sign the Ghanaian since last season.
There was a shock U-turn this week when Arsenal reignited their interest in Kudus, who has a release clause of £85m for Premier League clubs.
This is exactly what West Ham’s board would have been hoping for – a potential bidding war between two top clubs for Kudus.
Kudus stuns fans after ‘choosing’ between Arsenal and Liverpool
Especially given how tight money is at the London Stadium ahead of a summer where a major revamp is a necessity.
What the club or Hammers supporters probably didn’t bank on was Kudus’ comments in a new interview.
Because Kudus has stunned West Ham fans after a claim he’s chosen between Arsenal and Liverpool.
After Arsenal reignited their interest – as reported by Give Me Sport – it’s been reported Liverpool are Kudus’ preferred destination next season by the likes of Football365.
Hardly surprising in many respects given they have just won the Premier League at a canter.
What is surprising, though, is the suggestion the attacker’s future could be at West Ham.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
But none other than Kudus himself.
The Ghana international was asked about his future with a cleverly worded question designed to entice a hint over where he might be heading next.
But Kudus appears to have suggested that future may well be with West Ham.
Asked whether he thinks this season has been a blip for West Ham and whether they will be back stronger and competing for Europe with him in the side next season, Kudus took many by surprise.
“Yes, 100 per cent that will be the focus,” Kudus told Sky Sports.
“That should be the standard in every season and like I said we (West Ham) take a lot of lessons from these down times.
“For every setback I personally see it as an opportunity to grow and focus on what’s ahead.”
Kudus does West Ham a huge favour
Cynics will say this is Kudus playing the question with a straight bat and remaining very professional.
But even if that is the case it is still surprising as he could have used the opportunity to talk up a move away from West Ham amid the interest from Arsenal and Liverpool.
At the very least the Hammers ace deserves credit for that. Many others would have taken the chance to make it clear they want out.
This way it ensures West Ham can push the envelope in terms of asking price for their big asset as he cannot be painted as a player who desperately wants out.
And who knows, perhaps Kudus is open to staying if West Ham can raise enough money in sales elsewhere to fund summer signings.