West Ham United open talks for Mohammed Kudus with Ajax as Lucas Paqueta replacement

West Ham United have opened initial talks with Ajax to sign Mohammed Kudus this summer. The 23-year-old is expected to be the replacement for Lucas Paqueta, with Manchester City expected to bid for the Brazilian in excess of £70 million after their first bid was rejected. 

The Ghanaian has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs this summer. The likes of Brighton, Chelsea and Manchester United have also been linked with the player, but neither of them have made an offer to the Dutch side. 

Mohammed Kudus on West Ham United’s radar for this summer 

The 23-year-old played 30 Eredivisie games last season, scoring 11 goals and providing three assists. However, Ajax finished outside the Champions League spots for the first time in over a decade. And as a result, they are being forced to offload players to stay afloat financially. 

Kudus also scored five goals in eight European matches across the Champions League and Europa League. And now, he is likely to make the move to the Premier League. 

But, West Ham United want to offload Paqueta first before making a formal offer for the Ghanaian. They have also signed James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez to bolster their midfield after the departure of Declan Rice and Gianluca Scamacca. 

The arrival of Mohammed Kudus would help offset the impact provided by Paqueta if he makes the move. He is renowned for his skills and his ability to score and create chances, and will be a valuable addition for the Hammers if he completes the move.