Everton have to remain on Mohammed Kudus case despite journalist’s claim
Frank Lampard still has a lot to do in the transfer market to ensure his Everton squad is capable of challenging in the Premier League.
He has already overseen his side start the new campaign slowly with only one point from three games which came at home to newly-promoted Nottingham Forest on Saturday (20 August).
So he will know as well as anyone that improvements are needed and it sounded like a new loan arrival from Ajax was close in the form of Mohammed Kudus, according to Paul Joyce.
Even Fabrizio Romano had suggested that personal terms had been agreed between Everton and the Ghanaian international, indicating that the deal was near completion.
That was solidified by the Daily Mail which indicated that the 22-year-old was coming to Goodison Park to replace Dele Alli who is likely to move to Besiktas in the coming days.
But Dutch journalist Mike Verweij has now claimed that Ajax have received no formal approach for Kudus which throws a very large spanner into the works at Finch Farm.
“To date, no club has reported to Ajax for Mohammed Kudus,” he reported via Twitter. “Nor does it have to, because the team from Amsterdam certainly does not want to lose a midfielder. In principle, departure is not negotiable.”
This news will certainly be a kick in the teeth for Evertonians both within and out of the club but even if what Verweij is saying is true, there is no reason why the Toffees can’t make an approach and convince Ajax to accept the offer.
Kudus seems to be keen on the move, if Romano is to be believed, so there is no convincing needed on the player’s side unless they can sway him to rebel in Amsterdam to try and force a move through before the 1 September deadline.