Brighton and Hove Albion are reportedly interested in signing Ajax attacker Mohammed Kudus.
The Ghanaian international, 22, under contract to Ajax until 2025, rejected a one-year extension in April and is keen to leave the Eredivisie giants this summer. Ajax wants around £40million for the 22-year-old, who is on the radar of Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United.
According to The Athletic, Mohammed Kudus is among the players Brighton are looking at, with Roberto de Zerbi planning to reinforce his attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
Kudus was Ajax’s standout performer last season, scoring 18 goals and supplying seven assists in 42 appearances in all competitions, although the Dutch club finished third in the table and subsequently missed out on Champions League qualification. He also chipped in with two goals in three games for Ghana at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Mohammed Kudus to Brighton—Exciting addition?
Roberto de Zerbi is keen to build on last season’s sixth-placed finish in the Premier League and reinforce the key areas of his squad ahead of Brighton’s participation in the Europa League for the first time in their history. He has already added four new faces to his squad, with the likes of Joao Pedro, James Milner, Mahmoud Dahoud and Bart Verbruggen arriving at the Amex Stadium so far.
Having lost Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool at the start of the transfer window, De Zerbi is also now preparing for the exit of Moises Caicedo, who is Chelsea’s top target in midfield. Milner and Dahoud will improve Brighton’s quality in midfield but they will still need more to offset the departures of Mac Allister and Caicedo. With that being said, the Seagulls boss has set his sights on Ajax attacker Mohammed Kudus.
Kudus is one of the most sought-after attackers in the market, and he enhanced his reputation further with impressive displays at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Highly versatile, the Ghanaian international can operate out wide, as a false 9 and also in central midfield. He predominantly featured as either a No.9 or on the right flank for Ajax this past campaign, and such tactical versatility, coupled with creativity, energy and finishing skills, seemingly appeals to De Zerbi.
The 22-year-old will be an ideal player to provide support to the likes of Solly March, Pascal Gross, Evan Ferguson and Julio Enciso. With Danny Welbeck ageing and Ferguson still very young to shoulder the responsibility of scoring goals, Brighton needs to add squad depth to better prepare themselves for the long season ahead. And a player of Kudus’ qualities would add another layer to Brighton’s exciting midfield equation.
The prospect of playing in the Premier League for an attacking and exciting Brighton side should excite Kudus, and that will help in agreeing personal terms with the player. As the Seagulls will be looking to take the next step under De Zerbi, Kudus could become among the most important players heralding into a new era at the Amex.