Chelsea have registered an interest in Ajax attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus as the Blues look to bolster their offensive options this summer, Sportsworldghana.com has gathered.
Football.london, on Monday reported that Chelsea have spoken to Ajax in recent days over the possible sale of the 22-year-old Ghana international. The club are keen to add some more attacking power to their squad following multiple high-profile departures, including Mason Mount and Kai Havertz.
Kudus is one of multiple names being looked at to bring in before the summer transfer window closes in 38 days’ time. The Ajax star is open to leaving the Johan Cruyff Arena this summer with less than two years remaining on his contract in Amsterdam.
Rayan Cherki of Lyon is another player Chelsea are interested in signing in that position. The Blues have already contacted the 19-year-old’s representatives to gauge their stance and the feedback, SportsworldGhana.com understands, was very positive.
If any of these players are signed by Chelsea in the coming weeks then they will join fellow new signings Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, who have both started off very well in the famous blue shirt. Nkunku has scored in both pre-season matches for the Blues, while Jackson netted last time out against Brighton to get off the mark for his new club.
Mauricio Pochettino has not hidden away from the fact that Chelsea need to buy some more senior players. Speaking on Sunday morning, the Argentine hinted that more first-team players are needed before the season begins.
“We need to understand we are in Chelsea. Chelsea is to win, it’s not about developing players,” Pochettino said to reporters after the Blues’ win against Brighton at the weekend. “Of course, we are going to have few numbers of places for them with the possibility and potential to be a senior footballer in this football club.
“We need to be careful because people expect to win, when you play for Chelsea it’s about winning, it’s not about playing good football only. Yes we have many young but we need some experienced players also.
“We are working really hard to add some players that can help this year also but help today and try to get what we want. In my side, and for my side I think I would love to have these places for them to help them, if we can see the potential to arrive as a senior player for Chelsea.”
With all of this being said, football.london, presents how Chelsea could line their attack up against Liverpool next month should they complete the signing of Kudus.
There are multiple options on how Chelsea can set up their attack, not least because Nkunku can be used in multiple positions in the front-line. So far, the France international, who has scored in back-to-back games against Wrexham and Brighton, has been used predominantly as the No.9 in Pochettino’s setup.
However, if Jackson is to be used as well as Nkunku then we may see the latter go out wide – perhaps on the right, where he was used sometimes during his days with RB Leipzig. It could mean Kudus drops into the middle and acts as the No.10 behind Jackson.
Mykhailo Mudryk is predicted by many to have a big first full season at Stamford Bridge. The Ukraine international, who arrived in the January transfer window, found the back of the net in tremendous style in the win versus Brighton at the weekend after he linked up brilliantly with Jackson.
Mudryk is likely to be used on the left-hand side of the attack. If he can continue to build that relationship with Jackson, then their link-up play could prove to be a really exciting prospect for Chelsea supporters for the upcoming season.
