As West Ham continue their game of transfer chicken with Tottenham over Mohammed Kudus, I can’t help but notice the striking similarities with the ongoing situation surrounding Nayef Aguerd.
In both cases, we’ve got players clearly seeking a move away from the London Stadium—yet both have only attracted lukewarm interest from buying clubs. Sure, Kudus has a release clause and Aguerd doesn’t, but each has an unofficial valuation that so far hasn’t been met.
Spurs continue their tyre-kicking exercise—scratching their chins, taking exaggerated inhales of breath—before submitting a derisory offer. But is that really any different from Marseille bidding under £15m for Aguerd or Real Sociedad floating a loan deal?
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In many ways, it’s Aguerd who West Ham should be more urgent about selling. He’s 29, likely at his peak, and on a shorter contract than Kudus. Yet the club’s approach to the two situations has been very different—and perhaps that’s part of the problem.
Aguerd has been told to report for pre-season, informed that any bid under £25m will be rejected, and made aware that Graham Potter plans to use him. No-nonsense stuff!
Meanwhile, Kudus—who has a fixed £85m buyout clause that nobody has come close to activating—is being quietly lined up for sale, while Tottenham dither.
It begs the question: why not apply the same robust stance to both players?
Levy is going too low and too slow with Kudus offers
Time to get tough with Spurs
David Sullivan should end negotiations with Spurs and publicly state that Kudus is expected back at Rush Green on Monday, ready to integrate into Potter’s plans. If Levy wants him that badly, he can activate the clause—otherwise, move on.
Let’s be honest, much of this is about ego. Levy wants a bargain. Sullivan doesn’t want to look like he’s been outmanoeuvred. But West Ham are no longer in a position to beg.
With three billionaires on the board and Aston Villa showing how to create PSR room with creative solutions (like selling their Women’s team stake), West Ham should be able to comfortably fund any shortfall themselves.
Tottenham won’t pay £85m—fair enough. Kudus’s form alone doesn’t yet justify it. But if West Ham take a hard line, either Levy improves his offer, or Kudus stays—and the Hammers rebuild his value to that £100m player he was once tipped to become.