Chelsea’s Pursuit of Mohammed Kudus: A Bid to Beat Manchester United
Chelsea Football Club has reportedly offered West Ham United seven players in exchange for £85m forward Mohammed Kudus in a bid to beat Manchester United to his signature. According to sources, the Blues have reignited their interest in the 24-year-old having been linked with him when he made his £38m move to West Ham from Ajax in the summer of 2023.
The news comes after Chelsea announced that they would not be taking up their £25m obligation to buy Jadon Sancho this summer, following a loan spell at Stamford Bridge last season. The decision was revealed by The Athletic’s David Ornstein on Tuesday, and Sancho has since taken to Instagram to pen a farewell message to Chelsea fans. “Grateful for the experience. Big love to everyone at Chelsea who made me feel at home – team-mates, staff, and the fans. Wishing the club all the best moving forward. Truly grateful, thank you Blues.”
Chelsea is therefore in the market for a new forward to play to the side of a central striker, and it is claimed that they have offered West Ham seven players in a swap deal for Kudus, who reportedly has an £85m release clause. According to transfer expert Graeme Bailey, the players offered include Robert Sanchez, Carney Chukwuemeka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, and Trevoh Chalobah.
Bailey told The Chelsea Chronicle: “So, I’m told that there’s been talk with West Ham a little bit about possibly looking at Kudus and with players in exchange. I believe that Chelsea were offering Sanchez and Dewsbury-Hall but West Ham didn’t want that particularly, so yeah that’s an interesting one. Kudus, again a name who could be one to keep an eye on but obviously if it means Chelsea getting these players out. Dewsbury-Hall, we know is someone who can go. Robert Sanchez is one who they’re willing to let go which tells us about the goalkeeper situation.”
The move for Kudus is seen as a significant one for Chelsea, with the Blues looking to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season. West Ham, on the other hand, are said to be interested in Chalobah, Disasi, Tosin, and Badiashile, with two or three of them expected to leave the club. Bailey added: “West Ham we know were interested in Chalobah, Disasi, Tosin and Badiashile I think two or three of them are going to leave, but I think they want money for them, especially Tosin and Chalobah, because of the pure profit. I think Chukwuemeka has been mentioned as well to West Ham.”
Manchester United has also been linked with a move for Kudus, with a report earlier on Wednesday claiming that they had tried to tempt West Ham into a swap deal for the forward, offering Sancho in exchange. However, West Ham and Manchester United ‘couldn’t reach an agreement, so it currently seems unlikely that this will go through.’ Kudus has been the subject of interest from Liverpool and Arsenal during his time in England, while there have also been links to Saudi Arabia, but the midfielder ‘would prefer to stay in Europe.’
The pursuit of Kudus is a significant development for Chelsea, with the Blues looking to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season. As reported by Football365, the club has been active in the transfer market, with a number of signings and departures expected in the coming weeks. The source also revealed that Chelsea is ‘particularly enthusiastic’ about signing a rival left-back in a £38m transfer.
In related news, Manchester United has also been linked with a £32m Chelsea star in a stunning summer deal, as the Red Devils ‘meet’ £13m Mbeumo demands. The transfer market is heating up, and Chelsea is expected to be a major player in the coming weeks.
Original source: https://www.football365.com/news/chelsea-west-ham-seven-players-bid-beat-man-utd-85m-winger
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