As you might imagine, Mohamed Kudus’ impending move to West Ham United from Ajax is a hot topic of discussion in the Netherlands.
The midfielder is edging closer to the move he’s long been after, with the Hammers pushing to get a deal over the line and striking an agreement with Ajax this week.
It’s a deal that looks likely to be done sooner rather than later and the likes of Soccer News and Voetbal 4 U relay the various comments on the matter today.
Starting with the latter, they cover comments from analyst Wim Kieft in his column for De Telegraaf, with the journalist believing Ajax are not losing out much with the sale of Kudus.
“Mohammed Kudus is on his way to West Ham United. If Ajax collects an amount between 45 and 50 million euros for this, everyone is happy,” he is reported as saying.
“Marc Overmars brought him three years ago as a top talent for less than ten million euros from Denmark. Financially a lucrative deal, but sportingly he has not shown enough with his qualities.
“Three goals against Ludogorets, Bulgaria’s number eight, doesn’t say much. In big games he has not been one to make the difference with goals or to lead the team.”
That, though, is not an opinion on the player that is widely shared across the Netherlands, with the likes of Gerard van der Lem and Kees Kwakman believing Ajax aren’t being smart by selling to West Ham this summer.
“He still has a two-year contract, and he is a very important player. If I were Ajax, I would not sell Kudus at all now… If he continues like this, as he is playing football now, he will bring you twice as much money next year,” Van der Lem is reported as saying.
That’s an opinion shared by Kwakman, who feels that Kudus could actually move to a bigger club than West Ham and it is a shame he has opted for them in the end.
“The Premier League is the best league there is, but he has already played in the Champions League. Then you go to West Ham. I always think that’s a bit of a shame,” he reportedly told ESPN.
“I think his potential is higher. He started great for the first few games, but then he got injured.”
