Let the summer transfer business begin because West Ham could be about to get the deal they have been waiting for as Chelsea go for Mohammed Kudus.
That’s according to a top Chelsea insider who claims the Blues are about to turn to Mohammed Kudus next following the signing of Joao Pedro.
Despite Graham Potter declaring fans were in for an ‘exciting and interesting’ summer window, West Ham are yet to make a single signing.
Chelsea meanwhile are showing seemingly boundless ambition as they close in on sealing yet another deal with the £50m plus signing of Pedro from Potter’s old club Brighton.
Top Chelsea insider says Kudus deal with West Ham is next
West Ham’s board have been insisting players must be sold in order for Potter to make signings.
Kudus is the player the Hammers have been banking on making big money from, with the club setting his price at £65m to interested parties, including Chelsea.
That’s £20m less than the Ghanaian’s release clause – due to the fact nobody will get close to that figure after his underwhelming second season in east London.
Hammers News was first to reveal West Ham and Chelsea held talks over a potential deal for Kudus earlier this month.
Mohammed Kudus and Levi Colwill in action during Chelsea FC v West Ham United FC in the Premier League
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Chelsea have been mulling over a move for Kudus ever since initial discussions at the start of June.
The likes of The Guardian have reported since that the Irons held fresh talks with the Blues about the wantaway 24-year-old 10 days ago.
That’s after Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca – the former Hammers assistant manager – confirmed signing a new ‘winger’ is a top priority.
Especially with Mykhaylo Mudryk facing a possible four-year doping ban and Chelsea deciding they will listen to offers for Noni Madueke.
Let the transfers begin for West Ham as Chelsea make Kudus call
West Ham have been well and truly stuck in the mud on transfers while they wait to make sales.
But now there could be a breakthrough on the cards.
And it’s a case of let the transfers begin as a top Chelsea insider says striking a Kudus deal with West Ham is next on the agenda in west London.
Si Phillips is one of the leading reporters and insiders on all things Chelsea.
And he has reported on his own website overnight that Chelsea are now focused on signing Kudus from West Ham after deals were sealed for Pedro from Brighton and Jamie Gittens from Dortmund.
Mohammed Kudus during West Ham United FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC in the Premier League
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Maresca loves ‘swiss army knife’ Kudus for Chelsea
Phillips reports that Maresca wants Kudus to add more threat and more goals to his side.
But crucially because he believes the Hammers star can help break down the low blocks Chelsea face most weeks.
Phillips states Maresca sees Kudus as a ‘swiss army knife’ player he ‘loves’.
The big thing now is whether West Ham’s board can get the £65m they seek.
Given they have paid £55m for Gittens and just over £50m for Pedro – that looks tough for the Hammers but there are reasons £65m looks reasonable in context.
Pedro scored 10 goals and laid on six assists in just 23 starts for Brighton last season – double Kudus’ figures.
But Kudus is not directly comparable as Pedro is a striker and the Hammers man was played out of position in a drastically under-performing team for almost the entire campaign.
Gittens is unproven at the top level whereas Kudus has been a key performer in the Premier League and Europe for West Ham and Ajax.
Given Maresca sees Kudus as a versatile player who can unlock teams parking the bus, West Ham may be able to get the Blues to part with the £65m they seek.
If that transpires then the Hammers can start pulling the trigger on signings of their own.
West Ham have a host of targets lined up including Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, Man City’s James McAtee, Ipswich Town’s Omari Hutchinson, Club Brugge star Raphael Onyedika and Nice forward Evann Guessand.