Chelsea are currently mulling whether to sign Mohammed Kudus in what will be a pivotal sale for West Ham and Cole Palmer could be a big factor.
When West Ham signed Mohammed Kudus from Ajax, they beat Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton to his signature.
The reason the Hammers were able to sign the Ghanaian ahead of the Blues and Gunners was because they were spent out.
Chelsea had spent record amounts bringing in all manner of top young stars and Arsenal had signed Declan Rice from West Ham for £105m.
The Hammers edged out Brighton by agreeing to Kudus’ demands to insert a release clause in his contract.
Chelsea still mulling Kudus deal as West Ham name price
It was always the plan that Kudus would be moved on after one or two seasons.
West Ham’s problem is that his dip in form in his second campaign means they are unlikely to get the £85m laid out in his clause.
West Ham have revealed three Premier League clubs want Kudus – one of those being confirmed as Chelsea.
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Hammers News was the first to reveal talks between Chelsea and West Ham over a possible deal for Kudus.
That also saw a number of Blues players discussed as part of the equation.
West Ham chief David Sullivan and Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly. Inset, West Ham and Chelsea badges
Credit: GLYN KIRK/AFP/Robin Jones/Visionhaus via Getty Images
Kaveh Solhekol delivered a major update on Chelsea’s stance over a move for Kudus.
In it, Sky Sports’ chief reporter revealed that Blues chief Todd Boehly ‘has not said no’ to signing Kudus from West Ham.
The situation is still very much live and Chelsea are said to be mulling whether to go for a deal, with West Ham willing to accept in the region of £65-70m for the 24-year-old.
So Cole Palmer could be a factor in a Chelsea deal to sign West Ham star Kudus.
Palmer is hands down Chelsea’s most important and influential player.
Palmer could be a factor in Chelsea deal to sign Kudus
Whether that influence extends to the boardroom when it comes to his opinion on players could prove crucial for the Hammers.
Palmer is a man of many talents and few words.
But he reserved some of them to rave about Kudus during an interview recently.
Palmer was asked to rank the three most skilful players in the Premier League – not including himself.
He chose West Ham star Kudus, Palace’s Eberechi Eze and ex Man City academy graduate Phil Foden as his top three.
But Palmer showed particular interest in Kudus, and was buzzing at the mere mention of his name.
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Palmer raved about West Ham star as Chelsea could sign
“Kudus is very good, like very, very good,” Palmer said unprompted when deliberating his picks.
“Just (basing it) on skills, I’ll put Kudus third.
“(But) I like everything about his game. He’s fast, strong, technically good.
“Yeah I think he’s a very, very, very good player.”
If Palmer’s opinion holds any sway with Boehly then it could prove decisive as Chelsea mull the decision.
There is no lack of irony here either.
Because Palmer could and should be playing with Kudus at West Ham.
Bitter irony of Palmer and Kudus partnership for Hammers
West Ham agreed a deal with Man City to sign Palmer to replace Lucas Paqueta who was going in the other direction to Man City back in 2023.
Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady confirmed the Palmer to West Ham deal was true.
That was until the FA announced its investigation into Paqueta over his alleged involvement in spot fixing, collapsing both deals.
“We were close, (very) close (to signing Palmer),” former manager David Moyes said before leaving West Ham last May.
“You can probably imagine the other part of it, where there was a possibility of somebody leaving here which might have made that work.
“I was in regular contact with his agent and we were well on the road with it but it just changed at the end and we couldn’t do it.”
Now destiny could see Palmer and Kudus play together in west London instead of east.