With every day that passes in the summer transfer window West Ham grow increasingly desperate to sell players and Newcastle United might look to take advantage.
Newcastle know all about the frustrations West Ham are now experiencing regarding PSR.
The Magpies are, on paper at least, the richest sporting institution on the planet.
Yet Eddie Howe has been rather farcically forced to sell off some of Newcastle’s best players in order to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.
West Ham now find themselves in a PSR pickle.
The Hammers are not in imminent danger of a breach. But with big losses forecast for the next accounts and three years of heavy transfer spending, West Ham have little wiggle room for a much-needed overhaul.
It means Graham Potter, like Howe before him and like Unai Emery at Aston Villa, must sell a few sacrificial lambs to raise transfer cash.
No money, Mo problems for West Ham as Newcastle eye star
With Jarrod Bowen not for sale unless West Ham receive a ridiculous offer – Mohammed Kudus is the one Hammers chief David Sullivan and the manager are banking on selling for the most money.
After a dismal 14th place finish last season, it is clear the Hammers must drastically improve.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Newcastle meanwhile are looking to fine tune rather than revamp with the club back in the Champions League.
The Magpies and the Hammers have been on very different trajectories over the last 18 months.
That means they are now in a very different place in terms of PSR too.
As a result business between the two could prove mutually beneficial this summer.
West Ham have confirmed three Premier League clubs want Kudus.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Talks were held with Chelsea and Man United about a possible deal with no takers as yet.
Newcastle and Liverpool have also been heavily linked, though.
In an ideal world, West Ham will see a bidding war play out for Kudus.
The problem is the Ghanaian’s patchy form last season has damaged his reputation.
As a result Kudus is not quite the catch he would have been last summer after contributing 20 goals and assists in a scintillating debut campaign.
But without a quick sale, West Ham cannot make any signings of their own.
And rival clubs will be well aware of that fact.
What Newcastle would pay for Kudus if West Ham get desperate
Now a journalist has made it clear what Newcastle would pay for Kudus if West Ham get desperate.
A couple of months ago it was claimed Newcastle were planning a £70m offer to sign Kudus from West Ham this summer.
Howe reportedly sees Kudus as a player who can thrive in his Newcastle team. And the player has made Champions League football his top priority in deciding his next destination.
Kudus has an £85m release clause in his West Ham contract.
The clause is something of a red herring because it was inserted at the player’s request to prevent West Ham ever blocking a move should a top club be willing to meet the price.
The Hammers can accept whatever fee they see fit for Kudus – from Newcastle or whoever else.
Last week top northern football writer Luke Edwards told supporters to watch out for Newcastle moving to sign Kudus from West Ham.
Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images
Since then the Magpies have enquired about Anthony Elanga of Nottingham Forest and Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth.
Edwards has since revealed Newcastle are frustrated at the prices being quoted, claiming the club feel a ‘Saudi tax’ is being added to player valuations when they come calling.
That could see Newcastle try for a discounted move to lure the next player on their list – Kudus – from increasingly desperate West Ham.
Edwards reports in The Telegraph that Kudus is another player the manager and scouting staff are interested in and he is expected to be on the move this summer.
Howe low can you go as Magpies won’t go near £60m for Kudus
“But a suitable fee would need to be negotiated,” Edwards states.
That ‘suitable fee’ would be less than £60m according to the journalist.
“Newcastle can’t afford four players at £60-70m plus the wages that come with it and they’re not planning to sign anyone who breaks their wage structure either,” Edwards adds.
“Plan will be to make Isak top earner with new deal.”
If Newcastle end up being the only show in town for Kudus, it puts West Ham and Sullivan in a bind.
The board and Potter are under huge pressure to get the summer rebuild right.
But they can’t even get it started without a sale.
And Kudus is the only player with any substantial worth – showing just what a bad job has been done previously in compiling this current Hammers squad.
Reports emerged over the weekend saying Arsenal have performed a U-turn and may now want Kudus again after Nico Williams looked an impossibility.
But West Ham insisted Arsenal will be ‘laughed out of the room’ over Kudus if they went ahead with a reported plan to open the bidding at around £46m.