The Premier League rumour mill is in full swing, with Arsenal reportedly readying an audacious £90 million move for West Ham United’s Ghanaian winger Mohammed Kudus. The 24-year-old has caught the eye with his performances this season, including a scintillating strike in the Hammers’ recent 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Kudus, who joined West Ham from Ajax in the summer of 2022 for £22.5 million, has quickly established himself as a fan favourite at the London Stadium. His pace, trickery and eye for goal have made him one of the most exciting wingers in the Premier League, drawing comparisons to Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Arsenal’s Trossard Dilemma
The Gunners’ interest in Kudus is believed to be driven by the uncertain future of current winger Leandro Trossard. The Belgian international has been linked with a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League, leaving Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta searching for a high-calibre replacement.
“Kudus ticks all the boxes for Arsenal,” a source close to the club revealed. “He’s young, explosive, and has Premier League experience. Arteta is a huge admirer.”
However, prising Kudus away from West Ham will not be easy. The Hammers are notoriously tough negotiators, as evidenced by their £100 million valuation of Declan Rice last summer. It’s believed that any deal for Kudus would need to smash West Ham’s transfer record, currently the £45 million they received from Liverpool for Javier Hernandez in 2022.
Leão’s Milan Frustration
Meanwhile, in Italy, AC Milan star Rafael Leão is reportedly growing frustrated with life under new manager Paulo Fonseca. The Portuguese forward, who was instrumental in Milan’s Serie A triumph in 2022-23, has struggled to adapt to Fonseca’s tactics, scoring just once in nine appearances this term.
With Leão’s contract running until 2028 and containing a €175 million release clause, Milan hold all the cards. However, that hasn’t stopped some of Europe’s biggest clubs from circling. Barcelona are rumoured to be long-term admirers, while the riches of the Saudi Pro League could also tempt the 25-year-old.
“Rafa is not happy,” a source close to the player confided. “He feels Fonseca’s system doesn’t get the best out of him. A move in January is not out of the question.”
The Domino Effect
As the January transfer window approaches, the futures of Kudus and Leão could have a domino effect on the plans of several top clubs. Arsenal’s pursuit of Kudus hinges on Trossard’s potential exit, while Milan will be desperate to keep hold of Leão as they mount a title defense.
One thing is for certain – with big money and even bigger reputations at stake, the coming months promise to be a fascinating chapter in the never-ending drama of top-level European football.
