Arsenal and Chelsea given huge Mohammed Kudus transfer incentive as Brighton deal stalls.
Mohammed Kudus is attracting interest from top Premier League clubs with Arsenal and Chelsea keen on signing the Ghana international.
By Sam HillTrends Writer
21:00, 10 AUG 2023.
Arsenal and Chelsea have been given a fresh incentive to pursue a deal to sign Ajax star Mohammed Kudus this summer. Brighton have already reached an agreement in principle with Ajax to sign Kudus - as per the Athletic - but the deal has stalled.
The Seagulls will pay €40million (£34.5million) for the talented playmaker, a club record fee. However, the Ghana international is yet to agree personal terms with Brighton.
Roberto De Zerbi offered an update on Kudus' proposed move to the Amex Stadium last week. "I don’t know the situation with that deal… we have a lot of strikers," De Zerbi said in a press conference.
"We will see at the end of the window," he added. A deal is yet to be finalised and now the 48-hour deadline that Kudus had to make a decision regarding a personal agreement with Brighton has now expired, according to Voetbal International.
This does not necessarily mean he will stay at Ajax, but it hands control back to the Dutch club and allows them to negotiate a higher fee with each passing day. It also opens the door for Arsenal and Chelsea to compete for his signature once again - despite potentially facing a higher asking price than Ajax's original £34million valuation.
The Gunners still need to sell a number of players to raise funds for a potential move to sign Kudus, whilst Chelsea continue to focus on securing Moises Caicedo's signature. Earlier this summer, Ajax sporting director Sven Mislintat provided an update on the 23-year-old's future.
"There are clubs that have informally enquired about him," he told Ajax Life, via Metro. Speaking to Aglemeen Dagblad, he added: "There is no fixed deadline, but there are agreements we must have to get replacements if we have not already done so proactively.
"The best thing for if Kudus and (Edson) Alvarez stay, then we keep two top players. But it is also possible that one goes, or both," he continued. Edson Alvarez has since completed a transfer to West Ham whilst Kudus' future remains uncertain.
"It is important for us that the relationship with the players remains good. This can be done by being transparent and applying good principles. As we get closer to the deadline, the transfer fee, for example, goes up," Mislintat added.