Reports suggest that Arsenal is showing interest in signing Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus.
The Gunners have been active in the transfer market during the off-season, spending over £200 million to bolster their squad with the aim of surpassing last season’s second-place finish in the Premier League.
The acquisitions began with the arrival of Kai Havertz from Chelsea in a £65 million deal, followed by Jurrien Timber, who completed a £38.5 million move from Ajax.
Arsenal then broke their club record by securing the services of West Ham captain Declan Rice for a fee of £105 million.
While Rice’s signing falls just short of the British transfer record, with Chelsea’s acquisition of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for £106.8 million in January, the Gunners continue to explore potential additions to further strengthen their squad, with Mohammed Kudus from Ajax being mentioned as a possible target.
According toMail Online, Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar will now turn his attention to outgoings, with the likes of Kieran Tierney, Cedric Soares, Nicolas Pepe, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and Rob Holding all attracting interest.
Amid the summer transfer window, there has been significant speculation surrounding the future of Thomas Partey at Arsenal.
However, according to the publication, the Gunners will only consider selling the Ghanaian midfielder if they receive a substantial and noteworthy offer.
While Arsenal’s current focus appears to be on offloading players, they are not completely ruling out the possibility of further additions to their squad.
Mohammed Kudus is reportedly among the players who have piqued the interest of the club as they continue to explore potential signings.
Kudus to Arsenal?
Kudus, who can play as a conventional central midfielder, in a more advanced role and also on the wing, is thought to be a target for the Gunners, with his versatility said to be particularly attractive to Arsenal’s recruitment staff.
Brighton has shown interest in Mohammed Kudus during the summer transfer window. However, the allure of playing Champions League football with a team contending for the Premier League title could potentially influence Kudus’ decision.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who is speculated to have a price tag of around £40 million, possesses a notable level of self-assurance. In the past, he boldly stated that he believed his talent matched that of Neymar, the renowned Brazilian star. Kudus expressed, “He’s not better than me. He’s just a higher-profile player, that’s all.”
Their clash occurred during a friendly match between Brazil and Ghana last September, resulting in a heated exchange between the two players.
On the matter, Kudus added, in an interview with the Guardian: “He was defending his country and I was defending mine. I wasn’t about to let him push me around. What makes him better, for now, is that he has achieved a lot. I’ll get there soon.”