West Ham are advancing in talks with Ajax over Mohammed Kudus capture and are also set to step up their interest in the Montpellier striker Elye Wahi.
Tim Steidten, West Ham’s technical director, has flown to Amsterdam to meet Ajax officials and confidence is growing that a deal for Kudus will go ahead.
West Ham, who are making progress in their pursuit of the Stuttgart centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos, are reacting to the likelihood of losing Lucas Paquetá to Manchester City by hunting for attacking reinforcements.
West Ham are considering whether to offer Jesse Lingard a short-term deal after allowing the former Manchester United and Nottingham Forest midfielder to train with them this week. Lingard is without a club and is looking to prove his fitness to David Moyes.
Steidten’s focus is on clinching a deal for Kudus, who has also been targeted by Arsenal, Brighton and Chelsea. The attacking midfielder could cost about £40m and West Ham like the Ghana international’s versatility.
There is a feeling Kudus could also play up front. West Ham are also tracking Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson and the Rennes winger Jérémy Doku, who is expected to join City.
The Ghana international enjoyed a fantastic 2022/23 season with Ajax, scoring 18 goals and making seven assists in 42 appearances across all competitions.
Kudus seems determined to secure a move to the Premier League, too. He was heavily linked with a move to Everton last summer, while Brighton also agreed a fee with Ajax, but he decided against joining the Seagulls.
It appears that the Ghanaian international, now, has decided on West Ham as his next destination, which will come as a major boost to the London club.