According to the Athletic, West Ham’s bid for attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus has been rejected by Ajax.
The proposal put forth by the Premier League club failed to meet Ajax’s valuation of Kudus, leading to its prompt dismissal.
The course of action following this development remains uncertain. Ajax had initially tentatively agreed to sell the Ghana international to Brighton & Hove Albion for approximately €40 million; however, this arrangement did not materialize.
Despite undergoing several departures this summer, Ajax is intent on retaining Kudus, even though he has expressed his desire to leave. Chelsea is also among the clubs expressing interest in the 23-year-old during the ongoing transfer window.
Kudus, who is under contract with Ajax until 2025, declined a one-year extension in April. Over his three seasons in Amsterdam, he has recorded 16 goals in 63 Eredivisie matches and has notched seven goals in 24 appearances for the Ghana national team.
While West Ham has bolstered their midfield through acquisitions like Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, they are actively pursuing additional attacking reinforcements before the September 1 deadline.
The club is reportedly nearing an agreement with Stuttgart defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, and the player is expected to arrive in London within the next 24 hours.
The likelihood remains that Kudus will depart from the Dutch club before the transfer window concludes on September 1.