Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their pursuit of West Ham United forward Mohammed Kudus, with the north London side increasingly confident of landing the Ghanaian international in a deal that could see West Ham part ways with one of their most valuable assets as they attempt to balance the books and rejuvenate an ageing squad.
Sources close to the deal indicate that Spurs are weighing a bid believed to be in the region of £60 million, a figure that, while below Kudus’s £85 million release clause, could be sufficient to tempt West Ham into negotiations due to their financial constraints and a pressing need to comply with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR).
That release clause, specific to Premier League clubs, is active for only the first 10 days of July. With the window fast approaching, Spurs are expected to accelerate talks in hopes of sealing a deal before rival suitors move in.
Although no official asking price has been set, West Ham are thought to be open to serious offers given the wider context of their summer transfer strategy.
West Ham’s Issues
New West Ham head coach Graham Potter faces a difficult summer in East London. Despite arriving with a long-term vision to reshape the squad, Potter is acutely aware of the financial limitations that could force him into sacrificing some of the club’s most talented players before any reinforcements arrive.
Among those potentially available for transfer are high earners such as Edson Álvarez, Nayef Aguerd, and Niclas Füllkrug.
The club’s hopes of generating a major windfall from the sale of Lucas Paquetá have been dampened by an ongoing Football Association investigation into alleged betting breaches; allegations the Brazilian international strongly denies.
It looks like selling Kudus is the most viable route for West Ham to generate the capital necessary for a squad overhaul.
The Hammers are desperate to avoid falling foul of PSR thresholds and see Kudus as one of the few players in the squad with enough market value to trigger substantial interest across Europe.
Should the deal go through, Kudus would be the first player to move from West Ham to Spurs since Scott Parker’s switch in 2011.
Kudus’s time in claret and blue has been a mixed bag. After a strong debut season following his £37 million transfer from Ajax, the 24-year-old endured a more disappointing second campaign.
He clashed with former manager Julen Lopetegui before the Spaniard’s January sacking and managed just four goals all season.
A Tough Decision
For Potter, letting Kudus go is not an easy decision, but one he could accept. The Ghanaian’s preferred role on the right flank overlaps with that of club captain Jarrod Bowen; arguably West Ham’s most important player.
That redundancy, together with the potential fee Kudus could command, makes a sale logical, even if unpopular among fans.
Tottenham’s interest in Kudus is being spearheaded by new manager Thomas Frank, who is eager to bolster his attacking options following a promising but ultimately unfulfilled 2024/25 campaign.
The Dane, who joined Spurs from Brentford, is on the lookout for players capable of offering versatility, pace, and a direct goal threat.
Although Kudus was sent off against Spurs last season; a red card that resulted in a five-match suspension, the incident has not deterred Frank, who sees the Ghanaian’s explosive style as a perfect fit for his system.
With Bryan Mbeumo, one of Frank’s former Brentford stars, likely heading to Manchester United, Kudus represents a top alternative.
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