West Ham finalising
West Ham signing after late-night talks – sources
West Ham are pushing ahead on Sunday with a deal to sigzn Ajax attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus despite Man City pulling the plug on their Lucas Paqueta pursuit, sources have told Football Insider.
The Irons have held extensive talks with their Dutch counterparts, including on Saturday night, over a deal for the 23-year-old and have had an offer rejected.
However, West Ham have agreed personal terms with Kudus and are closing in on a full agreement as they look to negotiate the final structure of payments with Ajax.
Hammers technical director Tim Steidten has been in Amsterdam over the last week trying to complete a deal for the Ghana international.
Kudus is believed to be keen to move to the Premier League after previous moves fell through late on.
Kudus came close to a move to Serie A last week and has been on the radar of multiple leading English clubs this summer, including Chelsea and Brighton.
The Seagulls reportedly agreed a £35million fee for Kudus earlier this summer but failed to complete the signing after a dispute over the involvement of a release clause in his contract.
The Ajax star has got off to a brilliant start in the 2023/24 campaign, scoring in the opening weekend fixture against Heracles last weekend and assisting in a 2-2 draw with Excelsior on Saturday (19 August).
He has proven to be a reliable source of goals for the Dutch side after scoring 18 in 42 total appearances for Ajax last season.
Since signing for Ajax in 2020, Kudus has mostly been deployed on the right flank, but has also enjoyed spells in a central role under Erik ten Hag, Alfred Schreuder and now Maurice Steijn.
In other news, Flynn Downes undergoing Southampton medical tomorrow after West Ham deal agreed
West Ham United have made contact with Belgian Pro League side KRC Genk to sign attacking midfielder Mike Tressor, according to Sacha Tavolieri.
According to the Belgian journalist, taking to his personal Twitter account (19 August), the Hammers have made contact with Genk to sign Tresor and are waiting to settle the Lucas Paqueta affair before making progress with a potential deal.
The 24-year-old Belgian international enjoyed a sensational campaign for Genk last season, registering eight goals and a whopping 21 assists from 34 Jupiler Pro League games, winning the award for the division’s best player.
Tavolieri tweeted: “Things are moving for Mike Tresor!
“West Ham United are interested in the Belgium Pro League’s best player of the 2022/2023 season and are already in contact with KRC Genk’s player side.
“The Hammers must first settle the Paqueta’s affair, but are keen to make progress from next week and be in touch with the Genkies.”
With West Ham United already completing some impressive business to bolster this summer with the likes of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse joining the ranks in East London, the Hammers will now be looking to address their need further upfield.
After the departures of Gianluca Scamacca and Manuel Lanzini, and Lucas Paqueta facing an uncertain future David Moyes needs greater attacking spark and is already making moves to sign Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus.
However, just one attacking addition won’t be enough and after the season Tresor enjoyed last season, it’s a surprise to see only one club in for his signature right now, but that spells good news for the Irons.
Tresor is a talent of undeniable attacking qualities and is certainly ready to make the step up to an elite level after enjoying a superb 2022/23 campaign registering 29 goal contributions from 34 league games, a whopping number which certainly makes him an attractive and exciting option for the Hammers to consider.
Get him in.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are now edging closer to their third signing of the summer, with the player set to jet into the UK in the next 24 hours.
