Chelsea have been dealt a major blow in their pursuit to sign Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus, whom they had reportedly shown an interest in signing in recent weeks and even initiated contacts with the Dutch club over a possible transfer.
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Chelsea Dealt Mohammed Kudus Blow by Brighton
Brighton Agree Deal for Kudus?
The Athletic’s David Ornstein has provided surprising breaking news regarding the 22-year-old, claiming that Brighton & Hove Albion have struck an agreement in principle with the Eredivisie giants over the transfer of the midfielder.
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It’s stated that the Seagulls have agreed to pay £34.5 million for him, which would make the versatile Ghana international their club-record signing, surpassing the near £30 million fee they paid to sign Joao Pedro from Watford.
Ornstein claims that Kudus is close to agreeing personal terms with Brighton, who appear to have stolen a march on Chelsea by making a quick move for the Ajax star. It’s also claimed that Roberto De Zerbi personally spearheaded the pursuit – and he eyes Kudus as a key summer target.
What Is Next for Chelsea?
Mauricio Pochettino’s side appears to have lost the race to sign the Ghanaian midfielder. It’s been reported that the Blues remain locked in talks with Brighton over a potential move for midfielder Moises Caicedo, for whom they’ve already had an £80 million bid rejected.
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Chelsea are likely to continue pushing to sign Caicedo after seeing Brighton pay big bucks to make a potential club-record signing. However, they are seemingly going to have to sacrifice their interest in the 22-year-old Ghana international, who was praised as a “star boy” for his consistent performances at the Qatar World Cup. Kudus, who scored 18 goals and provided seven assists across all competitions for Ajax in the 2022/23 season, could be an asset for De Zerbi as he can play in a variety of roles, including as a centre-forward.
Photo Credit: JJ Hall on Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0
