talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has made a big Mohammed Kudus claim after a West Ham United appeal to the Ghana football administration.
Mohammed Kudus has been absolutely outstanding for West Ham since joining from Ajax for a bargain £38m in the summer.
So his absence will be sorely felt as the star boy heads off to AFCON with Ghana.
West Ham’s win over Arsenal which brought the curtain down on 2023 was expected to Kudus’ last game before heading off to the African Cup of Nations.
Crook makes big Kudus claim after appeal
With Ghana are one of the favourites to go deep in the Ivory Coast tournament, it means no Kudus for the Hammers for around six weeks.
There were hopes Kudus could have once last dance in the crunch clash with Brighton on Tuesday night, though.
David Moyes told the press that he was hoping to have his star man available for Brighton.
West Ham were said to have asked Ghana for permission to use Kudus against Brighton before sending him over to join up with former Hammers player and Brighton boss Chris Hughton’s squad.
But now a talkSPORT reporter has delivered a bitter blow with an update on the situation.
Gha-NA to West Ham request
Alex Crook makes big Kudus claim after West Ham appeal to Ghana.
Taking to social media, Crook confirmed the Hammers request has been rejected. But he is not ruling out a potential change of heart.
“Ghana have rejected West Ham’s request to allow Mohammed Kudus to report late for AFCON duty,” Crook said on New Year’s Day afternoon.
“Barring a change of heart he will not play vs Brighton tomorrow live on talkSPORT.”
As things stand that means no Kudus, Lucas Paqueta, Nayef Aguerd and potentially Kurt Zouma for the match with the Seagulls.
That will of course be a bitter blow for Moyes.
And it will give the Scot a major headache for the coming weeks
