West Ham star ‘receptive’ to transfer but it’s not Liverpool despite Arne Slot ‘flirtation’. West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus is reportedly open to a big money move to Saudi Arabia this summer despite talk of transfer interest from Premier League rivals.
The 24-year-old has endured a frustrating season at the London Stadium with just three goals across all competitions. The Ghana international has turned heads with his dynamism since arriving at West Ham from Ajax for around £40 million in 2023, but has struggled for form during the 2024/25 campaign.
Kudus’ start to life in the Premier League had seen him linked with a transfer to Arsenal and Liverpool last summer. The Reds are perhaps the club most regularly credited with transfer interest in the winger, who had been touted as a potential Mohamed Salah replacement before the Egyptian signed a new contract last week.
West Ham star ‘receptive’ to Saudi Arabia transfer
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is known to be a fan of the player and hasn’t been afraid to heap praise on Kudus as transfer rumours swirl. Flirting with transfer talk after the 2-1 win over West Ham at the weekend, Slot said: “They also have players and that’s what makes the Premier League so strong this season.
“I think they’re 16th or 17th in the league but I can name you one or two players that could easily have played with us today as well in terms of quality. I think Paqueta and Kudus were outstanding today, especially second half.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, Slot added: “Kudus started to run everywhere and he was almost uncontrollable for us today. That led to chances as they also have in Bowen a player who can run behind the line. It made it really hard for us and Ali [Alisson] saved us multiple times.”
Despite that praise from Slot, TBR Football claims that it is a move to Saudi Arabia that is more tempting for Kudus with the player ‘receptive’ to a move to the Middle East. The Hammers are known to be planning substantial changes this summer ahead of Potter’s first full season in charge.
Kudus has a release clause of £85 million for Premier League clubs, which will become active this summer. For the wealthy clubs of Saudi Arabia, that figure rises to £120 million. TBR Football suggests that such a bid could come from Saudi Arabia, but that European interest is more likely to come at around £50 million rather than the £85 million release clause.
Graham Potter confronts Mohammed Kudus struggle for form
Speaking about Kudus’ form this season, Potter said last month: “I think Mo has had probably a season that, from his perspective, would be a little bit disappointing, not because of his lack of effort or anything like that, but sometimes these things happen.
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“Speaking personally, he’s been great with us in terms of how he’s worked every day, fantastic. He has built his fitness up, built his condition up to the point where he can sustain things a lot better now.
“Football can go like that sometimes. You can have a little spell when it doesn’t quite happen for you in front of goal or your final pass just doesn’t quite get there. It doesn’t take much to turn that round.
“How he contributed, for example, against Arsenal in our win there, even though he didn’t score or assist, he was a top, top player in that game and massively helped us. So the numbers say something, but there’s also the [other] aspects of his performance that have been really, really good.”
In other news, this is how West Ham fare against Premier League rivals in a table without VAR this season.
