OFFICIAL NOW: Arsenal completes the signing of £150m European biggest prospect, Medical completed,Player to take over Martinelli jersey number, Jubilation at London Colney as fans welcome their third summer signing
OFFICIAL NOW: Arsenal completes the signing of £150m European biggest prospect, Medical completed,Player to take over Martinelli jersey number, Jubilation at London Colney as fans welcome their third summer signing
Arsenal have held exploratory talks to sign West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus this summer, according to the Sun.
The Ghana international is not pushing to leave the Hammers amid interest from the Gunners and other suitors, but he is open to leaving the London Stadium club and has changed agents.
Kudus has signed with sports management firm ROOF having chosen a family member to represent him after parting ways with agent Jennifer Mendelewitsch last year.
Arsenal are long-term admirers of the 24-year-old having attempted to sign him while he was in the Eredivisie, and they could look to return for him in their search for a new left winger.
However, he has a release clause of £85 million, which Premier League clubs can activate when it becomes active between July 1 and July 10, and the North London club are unlikely to be willing to pay such a huge fee for him given their need to strengthen other areas.
Kudus notched 18 goals and ten assists in 48 games in his debut campaign in the English top-flight but ended last season with five goals and four assists in 35 games, which has seen his value nosedive.
Arsenal have been linked with the likes of Athletic Bilbao attacker Nico Williams, Feyenoord left winger Igor Paixao and Leroy Sane – who has since joined Galatasaray.
Bayern Munich want to sign Gabriel Martinelli, who the Gunners value at around £50m, but selling him will leave manager Mikel Arteta with Leandro Trossard as his only natural left winger, and replacing the Brazilian with Kudus may not be advisable.
The Ghanaian has what it takes to rediscover his old form and could hit the ground running at the Emirates Stadium club should a deal get done, but signing him should not be at the expense of Martinelli, and Arsenal have to make a wise decision in the coming weeks
