The Mohammed Kudus situation has taken a major twist after he reportedly made a direct plea to new Liverpool manager Arne Slot, pledging his desire to join the Reds over Spurs.
The West Ham star’s stance could save the club’s owners from rising fan anger as they face the prospect of having to sell to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the first time in 14 years.
Hammers ace Mohammed Kudus now finds himself at the centre of the biggest transfer tussle heading into the second month of a three-month summer window with Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool all involved.
West Ham claim they are in such a poor state financially, they are now banking on selling Kudus and other players to raise transfer cash for Graham Potter.
Liverpool had been the club most consistently linked with the Ghanaian in recent months.
Huge Liverpool twist could save West Ham selling Kudus to Spurs
But as they focused on big transfer deals elsewhere – including the record signing of Florian Wirtz – talk of a move to Anfield had gone quiet.
Speculation ramped up yesterday that Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, historically the two biggest rivals to West Ham outside of Millwall, are set to launch imminent bids for Kudus.
There is no love lost between the Irons and Spurs, who last did business way back in 2011 with Scott Parker and David Bentley moving between the fierce rivals.
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So the prospect of selling Kudus to Tottenham has not gone down well at all with West Ham supporters, many of whom feel the faded star boy will show the form of his scintillating debut season wherever he ends up next.
West Ham paid £38.5m to sign Kudus from Ajax two years ago, reportedly beating the likes of Liverpool to his signature at the time.
Mohammed Kudus stars for West Ham in the Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield on April 15 2025
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Kudus is officially the best dribbler in all of Europe – by some distance statistically – and has proved he can be one of the top players in the Premier League on his day – not least in performances against champions Liverpool.
Arne Slot has gone on the record several times to state he is a big fan of the Ghanaian attacker, who he knows well from their time competing in Holland.
Slot actually raved about Kudus after West Ham’s defeat at Anfield in April.
Reds players, including captain Virgil van Dijk, have also reportedly been urging the club to sign Kudus since last summer.
Kudus sends plea to Slot in pledge to swerve Spurs for Liverpool
And it was revealed recently that Liverpool are Kudus’ preferred destination when he leaves West Ham.
Just like with Declan Rice when he had a choice between then Premier League champions Man City and Arsenal, one option is a lot more palatable than the other for West Ham fans.
Rice only wanted Arsenal, though, and that move still stings supporters.
Spurs are even bigger rivals than Arsenal for the Hammers, hence fan reaction to the thought of Daniel Levy getting Kudus to north London for well below his £85m release clause.
Now David Sullivan and co may be saved from that awkward scenario.
Because West Ham star Kudus has sent a plea to Slot in a pledge to swerve Spurs for Liverpool.
West Ham star Mohammed Kudus pushes Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven as he is red carded in their Premier League clash in October 2024
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
The West Ham board confirmed they would sell Kudus to Spurs if Levy paid the £65m asking price in a Hammers News exclusive earlier this month.
West Ham reiterated to Hammers News last night that they may have no choice but to reluctantly sell to Tottenham.
“Sadly £55m/£60m offers are hard to get,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News overnight about the prospect of selling to Tottenham.
“We are searching everywhere to try and get it.”
That came after it was claimed yesterday Kudus is ‘open’ to joining West Ham’s rivals Spurs.
Kudus took matters into his own hands to get out of West Ham, by changing agents recently.
Kudus will accept reduced salary to join Liverpool over Spurs
Now he has gone a step further in that regard to try and ensure it is Liverpool he joins over Tottenham or Chelsea.
That’s according to the editor of LFC Transfer Room, Matt Thielen.
The Reds reporter revealed overnight that Kudus has instructed his new agent to inform Liverpool directly that he is willing to make sacrifices to move to Anfield.
Thielen states the wantaway Hammers star is open to accepting a reduced salary should Liverpool express they want to secure his services amid interest from Tottenham and Chelsea.
That update comes in the wake of claims Liverpool are now focusing on signing a new centre-back and winger next.
Kudus’ actions will be a relief to Hammers fans but potentially a bitter blow for Tottenham.
And the player may just save West Ham’s owners from themselves.