Likely to be the dominant transfer in West Ham’s whole summer window, the Mohammed Kudus sale – and spending of the cash on a summer rebuild, has been high profile for weeks before the transfer window even opened as the West Ham hierarchy made it known that players needed to be sold to fund ‘incomings’. With Lucas Paqueta currently effectively ’embargoed’ thanks to the FA inquiry and Jarrod Bowen ‘not for sale’, Kudus is the ‘crown jewel’ most likely to yield big bucks.
Speculation over Tottenham’s bidding – is it £50, or £55 million – and the possible re-emergence of Chelsea as serious alternative buyers has been the story of this Saturday. West Ham specialist journo David Ornstein on his [nytimes/athletic podcast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eWRqk-Aa_U&t=1899s) earlier today has poured cold water on any notion that the Kudus sale is heading forwards at pace. In what will be seen as ‘good news’ by the pro-Kudus Hammers element, the journalist suggested:
“_They have a reported interest in him_,” states Ornstein – but then pouring cold water on any likely crescendo of interest any time soon “_We don’t know of it being more than him being one of the options they’re considering…..I don’t think this one is close to a conclusion as of yet”_
So, no danger of Mohammed Kudus heading to north London any time this week, or next, by the sound of it.
With pre-season upon us next week there is just a teeny, minuscule glimmer of hope that the Hammers might find a way to keep Kudus and grab the promised £90 million investment to fund player purchases from the board instead, if a deal for Kudus doesn’t materialise.