Transfers

West Ham Insist On £85 million To Sell Mohammed Kudus For Arsenal

Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool have suffered a major blow in their pursuit of West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus.

Mohammed Kudus has been linked with a move away from the club. Arsenal and Liverpool are two top clubs keen on signing the attacking midfielder. They were eyeing a cut-price deal for the Ghanaian international but according to a report from Football Insider, the Gunners and the Reds have suffered a blow as West Ham United won’t sell for a knockdown price.

Kudus arrived at the club in the summer of 2023 from Ajax in a deal worth £38 million. He had established himself as an exciting talent at the Dutch before making the move to the Premier League.

The transfer to England has gone according to plan for him as he has managed to establish himself as a key figure in the Hammers’ first team. He has gone from strength to strength over the past 18 months and his performances haven’t gone unnoticed.

While he prefers playing as a number ten, he can even feature on either flank. The Irons haven’t had an ideal start to the new campaign but he has been one of their standout performers. Kudus is currently serving a six-match ban following a sending-off against Tottenham for his violent conduct.

Arsenal and Liverpool suffer blow in Kudus pursuit
He might be out of action but his name is still attracting a lot of attention. Arsenal and Liverpool are believed to be big admirers of the 24-year-old who can feature anywhere in attack. Both clubs seek more firepower up top and they believe the Ghanaian international can help their cause.

The Gunners see him as someone who can bolster their attack as a whole while Liverpool consider him an ideal long-term replacement for Mohammed Salah. While both clubs were plotting a cut-price deal for the former Ajax star, they have suffered a blow as the Hammers have no intentions of letting him leave on the cheap.

He is considered a key figure in their team and is protected by a massive £85 million release clause which will once again be active next summer. The Irons are desperate to have him around for as long as possible and won’t accept any bid below his release clause. With his contract running until the summer of 2028, West Ham are well in control of the situation.

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Transfers

Liverpool And PSG Lead The Race To Sign Lyon’s Rayan Cherki

According to a report from Foot Mercato, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool are both leading in the race to sign Olympique Lyonnais’ Rayan Cherki (21).

The France youth international was ostracised at the start of the season amid a contract standoff. His contract had been set to expire at the end of the season, however, ultimately, he extended by a further year, allowing his re-integration. He has since gone on to net five goals and register seven assists in 17 matches. Since breaking through as a teenager, this is his first consistent patch of form.

However, the Frenchman may leave the club in January. Whilst OL are reportedly keen to retain Cherki, they may have little choice in the matter. Lyon are being forced to raise funds this January following a provisional relegation to Ligue 2. Selling assets, such as Cherki, will prevent that fate, even if other, more peripheral figures have been touted for departures.

Whilst Cherki is reportedly keen to see out the season with his formative club, the matter will be taken out of his hands should a club meet OL’s €30m price tag. As per Foot Mercato, Liverpool and PSG are most keen to recruit the attacker in January although Get French Football News understands that Les Parisiens will not return for Cherki, having been snubbed by the player in the summer.

Transfers

Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United Keen On Signing Fulham’s Antonee Robinson

Ruben Amorim is expected to make a left back’s signing his top priority at Manchester United in 2025. Though Tyrell Malacia has been fit for a few weeks, the Portuguese has opted in favour of Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui in the position, whereas the less said about Luke Shaw’s fitness for the last year or two, the better.

According to Spanish outlet MARCA, the Red Devils are pondering over a transfer for Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson. The 27-year-old has earned a name for himself under Marco Silva this season and after some brilliant performances for the Cottagers, he has been linked with the Premier League’s bigger sides, including Chelsea and Liverpool.

If the interested parties materialise their interest in Robinson, Fulham would understandably find it hard to hold onto him for much longer though he will not be available on the cheap either. The American international’s contract at Craven Cottage runs until June 2028 and he would command a decent amount, possibly more so than his valuation of £23 million on Transfermarkt.

United will hold upper hand
Manchester United are likely to hold the upper hand when it comes to beating Chelsea and Liverpool for Antonee Robinson’s potential purchase from Fulham next year.

Chelsea have Marc Cucurella who has been playing very well this season apart from the odd error or two. The Spaniard has been solid defensively and that seems like a characteristic that Enzo Maresca will value more than the offensive game given that the Blues like to defend deep and compactly.

On the other hand, Liverpool have Andy Robertson and though he is past 30, the Scotsman has a few more years under his belt. It seems unforeseen for Arne Slot to do away with him in the near future, so Robinson’s playing time at Anfield would be restricted. Plus, a left-back is unlikely to be a priority for the Reds.

Man United, meanwhile, will be willing to pay a reasonable fee to bring Robinson in and can guarantee him a starting role. As a wing back, his attacking gameplay would be an asset for the Red Devils and Amorim would also get his hands on a player that has a few years’ experience in the Premier League.

A transfer for Robinson in January is unlikely, however, with Fulham pursuing a top-half finish in the Premier League. If he does continue performing for the second half of the campaign though, he will have plenty of suitors in the summer.

Transfers

Corruption: Napoli Offices Raided By Police Over Osimhen Transfer, Details Emerge

The police have raided at least two offices of Napoli after corruption investigations into the transfer of Victor Osimhen from Lille were launched in both Italy and France.

This followed startling revelations by the former Lille President Olivier Letang that the French club only received Seven Million Euros from the reported 70 Million Euros Napoli splashed on the striker four years ago.

The deal included the transfer of four young players from Napoli for 20 Million Euros as well as agency fees and commissions.

“Since there were four players who came for 20 million euros, the net income from the sale of Osimhen was not 68 million euros,” Letang said.

“In other words, its value was zero. Including factors such as brokerage fees and commissions, the club’s coffers received 7 million euros in the Osimhen transfer.”

Letang made these revelations to the leading French sports newspaper L’Equipe. This will not be the first time that questions have been asked about this transfer with the French Government also wading in.