Liverpool’s renewed interest in Mohammed Kudus has ignited a fierce debate among West Ham fans, just days after it appeared any transfer hopes were dead in the water.
Last week, with news emerging that Mohamed Salah had agreed to a new two-year deal at Anfield, the general assumption was that Liverpool’s pursuit of Kudus was over. For West Ham, who are reportedly in need of sales to meet PSR regulations and fund Graham Potter’s summer rebuild, it was a significant setback.
The Hammers had hoped to cash in on Kudus after an impressive debut campaign in which the Ghanaian attacker contributed 20 goals and assists. His form attracted interest from the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and even clubs in Saudi Arabia. When West Ham signed Kudus, they beat several top European clubs to his signature — a testament to his high potential.
But after a dip in form earlier this year, West Ham’s hopes of selling him for a hefty fee appeared to be fading. That changed following the Hammers’ recent 2-1 loss to Liverpool, where Kudus turned in a standout performance that reportedly caught the eye of Reds manager Arne Slot and club captain Virgil van Dijk.
According to journalist Dominic King of the Daily Mail, Kudus made a “big impression” on Liverpool over the weekend, reigniting their interest. It’s even claimed that Liverpool players had previously urged the club to sign Kudus after his performance for Ajax at Anfield in the Champions League, where he scored.
Slot, who has vowed to strengthen Liverpool this summer, is now believed to be back in the hunt for Kudus — a move that has divided the West Ham fanbase.
A Divided Fanbase
Some West Ham fans argue that selling Kudus would be wise, suggesting the player only turns up against big teams like Liverpool and Arsenal, using those games to put himself in the shop window. Others feel his inconsistent performances — especially against teams like Southampton and Brentford — have hampered the Hammers throughout the season.
“He now only performs against the better sides,” one supporter noted. “His last two good games were against Liverpool and Arsenal. He’s been poor against everyone else.”
Others, however, insist that West Ham would be making a grave mistake by letting Kudus go after just one season.
“I will never give up on him. He’s simply too unique and talented not to be one of the best,” one fan posted. Another warned, “People will really regret letting him go. Our fans want to be a big club but are fine with letting a world-class player leave after one off-season.”
Some are more pragmatic. One fan said, “Bad decision making, bad team ethic, bad work ethic. Good at dribbling. If we get £80 million, I’ll drive him to Liverpool myself.”
Outside Opinions
Even fans from other clubs have weighed in. A neutral Premier League fan suggested that Kudus isn’t a bad fit for West Ham — just not under the current system. “He doesn’t suit your manager, but if you had a proper setup with Bowen on the right, a quality striker, and Kudus behind, that’d be a scary attack.”
A Liverpool fan who watched the game live admitted he was stunned by Kudus’ display: “I was at the game — I couldn’t believe how good he was. Unbelievable player.”
What’s Next?
While Arsenal have reportedly dropped their interest following the appointment of new sporting director Andrea Berta, Liverpool now appear back in the race. However, they may face fresh competition from Newcastle United, who are said to be preparing a big-money bid of their own.
As the summer transfer window approaches, the question remains — will West Ham cash in on Kudus to finance their rebuild, or will they try to hold onto the player Graham Potter has described as “world-class” for at least one more season? Either way, the debate among the fans is far from over.
