Manchester United held secret talks with West Ham over a swap deal between two players, United In Focus can reveal.
Amid a frenetic start to the transfer window at Manchester United, the Red Devils have held talks over a swap deal with West Ham.
The player involved from the West Ham side is attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus, who has been with the Hammers since 2023.
Kudus was ready to make the move to Manchester United, but a deal is currently on hold, even though he is expected to leave West Ham.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Mohammed Kudus and Jadon Sancho swap deal talks
Manchester United and West Ham held talks over a proposed swap deal for Mohammed Kudus and Jadon Sancho.
United In Focus understands, via insider Graeme Bailey, that discussions were held between the two clubs over a move.
Sancho has spent the season on loan at Chelsea and has no future at Manchester United.
There has been some uncertainty over whether Chelsea will activate their purchase clause, or choose to pay a £5 million penalty to send him back to Manchester United.
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This necessitated United to explore alternative options for a potential sale, and a possible deal with West Ham was sought out.
Sancho was open to a potential switch to West Ham, while Kudus was eager to make a potential transfer to Manchester United.
However, West Ham’s management team were unsure about Jadon Sancho’s fit into their system, and talks broke down.
Separately, Chelsea have told United that they are willing to sign Sancho on a permanent basis, and his move is expected to now progress.
But even if Chelsea were to change their mind, West Ham’s reluctance to take Sancho means this swap deal is unlikely to get off the ground.
Kudus sale expected but may not be to Manchester United
West Ham are willing to part ways with Mohammed Kudus, he is the big sale they need to make to facilitate their incoming transfer plans.
However, with Manchester United signing Matheus Cunha and pushing on with a deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, Kudus is not a top priority.
An opportunistic swap deal for Jadon Sancho might have been attractive to United. But to pay a fee on top of moves for Mbeumo and Cunha is unlikely.
Kudus scored five goals and provided three assists for West Ham last season, after contributing eight goals and six assists in 2023/24.
United were linked with Kudus a year ago, but did not move for him in 2023 when he was available from Ajax, signing Mason Mount from Chelsea instead.