www.hammers.news
Ex West Ham striker flop makes astonishing £125m Mohammed Kudus claim
Damien Charles Lucas
5 – 6 minutes
Mohammed Kudus and West Ham need to think long and hard about their next move says a former Hammers striker.
West Ham are desperate for cash this summer and need to sell players in order to buy.
With selling Jarrod Bowen not an option – unless West Ham want a fan revolt on their hands – Mohammed Kudus is their most valuable and saleable asset.
The fly in the ointment has been his performances this season.
After lighting up in the Premier League in his debut season with the Hammers, Kudus was reportedly being courted by Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and clubs in Saudi Arabia.
No money Mo problems for West Ham
In fact, after scoring 14 goals – many of them outstanding efforts – and laying on six assists, the £85m release clause in Kudus’ West Ham contract seemed too cheap.
No potential suitors met the release clause last summer, though.
Presumably waiting to see how Kudus fared for West Ham in the all-important second season.
Unfortunately for the Ghana star and the Hammers, the answer is not very well at all.
Kudus has managed just three goals all season long, had a bust-up with ex manager Julen Lopetegui and was banned for five games when the red mist descended at Spurs.
Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images
Hammers boss Graham Potter admitted Kudus has been disappointing by his own standards.
That has not stopped the attacker being linked with the likes of Al-Nassr, though.
It has been revealed that Arsenal have now officially dropped out of contention to sign Kudus.
There has been much talk about Kudus’ release clause.
Kudus’ release clause can be activated by European clubs at £80m, Premier League clubs at £85m and Saudi sides at £120m.
Realistically nobody is going to be paying that kind of money off the back of such a poor second season, where many might feel he has been somewhat found out.
What is being misunderstood by many, though, is that West Ham can sell Kudus for whatever amount they wish.
The clause is in the contract as a demand of the player and his agent when signing for the Hammers to ensure he could leave for an elite club should they come knocking.
And word coming out of the corridors of power at West Ham is that selling Kudus will be an absolute necessity this summer.
The Hammers board and the player might be making a costly mistake, though.
That’s according to ex West Ham striker flop Modibo Maiga who has made an astonishing £125m Kudus claim.
Kudus’ fellow African Maiga knows all about the pressures of playing for West Ham.
He scored just seven goals in 45 games for the Hammers over the course of three seasons.
Maiga is uniquely positioned to offer Kudus advice as he actually joined Al-Nassr from the Hammers in a £3m deal back in 2015.
Image of Mohammed Kudus with insets of Graham Potter and the Al Nassr badge
Image of Mohammed Kudus with insets of Graham Potter and the Al Nassr badge Credit: Getty Images/Rob Newell – CameraSport /Michael Regan/Julian Finney
But the former Hammer has advised Kudus to stay at West Ham for another season and for the Hammers to resist selling him.
Because he believes he could be worth £125m if he finds his level again next season.
“Kudus is still very young. He still has a lot to prove at West Ham,” former Mali star Maiga told Africa Foot.
“He’s an excellent player, who’s going through a bit of a difficult time, as any player can. I don’t know if he’s carrying an injury or not.
“Because sometimes, a player can have a hidden injury and continue to push hard. It’s something you don’t see from the outside. For example, I played a large part of my career with a knee injury. An injury I contracted while still playing at Le Mans. At West Ham, I was still carrying the same injury, and it’s often frustrating because you always want to give your best.
“That’s why, at one point, when I had the opportunity to sign for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia at 28, I didn’t hesitate.
Maiga tells Kudus and West Ham one more season will pay big
“I don’t know if Kudus has the same problem. Because it’s not easy with the public pressure and the desire to always do better. If not, he should keep working hard. He already has the support of the coach and also his teammates. I’m sure he can be better than before if he works hard and surrounds himself with better people.
“It’s true that in modern football, things move very quickly. But he still has a while left at West Ham and at least two years in Europe. He should try to perform well again with West Ham. If the club is asking for £85m today, perhaps his market value could rise to £125m in the near future.”
Maiga may actually be on to something here.
One thing is for certain, Kudus’ value cannot fall any lower than it will have this season.
He is too good a player for that quality not to shine through again.
So waiting another season is actually a great bit of advice from Maiga.
That way West Ham would feel the benefit of improved performances and could then ultimately make more money from a sale.
The elephant in the room is PSR, though.
West Ham need money in the door and with Kudus their only premium asset beyond Bowen, it may force the club’s hand to take a hit on what they originally hope to bring in.
