Everton attempted to sign Mohammed Kudus towards the end of the summer transfer window, and were faced with an unwillingness at Ajax to negotiate the player’s exit.
It was always a long shot for Frank Lampard’s side, given the players the Dutch club had already parted ways with during the market. They really couldn’t afford to lose more and with Kudus being 22-years-of-age and having a contract lasting until 2025, he’ll be seen as someone they can make more from in the future.
The player didn’t quite see it that way.
He was given less than 1000 minutes last season across all competitions, and just 400 in the Eredivisie, so if he wasn’t going to be key for Ajax then he may as well try his chances for Everton in the Premier League. Kudus tried to force the issue, but the Amsterdam club stood firm and things are working out a little better for him than last season.
Alfred Schreuder has been using the player more as a striker this season, and the Ajax manager has explained that’s the stance he used to convince Kudus to forget about Everton.
SoccerNews.nl quote him as saying: “During the period that Everton wanted him, I also told him: You are still going to be very important to us. That has come true and I have also indicated to him to think less in positions, but mainly in possibilities on the pitch. Having a completely different type of striker with him than Brobbey, I see as a great luxury.”
In his three Eredivisie games in September, Kudus scored four goals, but he only started on the bench for Saturday’s match against Go Ahead Eagles.
