Everton make official Sunday bid to Ajax to force Mohammed Kudus decision as rivals close in
Ajax are expecting an official bid this weekend from Everton to sign young attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus before the transfer deadline, Ghanasoccernet.com reports.
What was thought to be a virtually done deal for the Ghanian international has stalled in the past 10 days as the Dutch giants’ manager Alfred Schreuder insisted he wanted to keep the 22-year-old.
But amid minimal playing time off the substitutes bench Kudus wants to leave on loan to get regular games, with the Toffees the first of a growing crowd of interested clubs to make their intentions official.
According to Ghanasoccernet.com Everton made contact with officials at the Eredivisie side on Saturday night (27 August), with a bid expected to follow on Sunday for a loan deal with an option to buy.
Tottenham headline the group of chasing Premier League sides, which also includes Leeds, Leicester and Wolves, while a separate report from the same outlet says that the Foxes are readying their own loan bid, along with Belgian champions Club Brugge.
It had previously been suggested that Ajax decided to drag their feet on the Everton deal when they realised a reserve option was attracting so much attention [Saddick Adams], prompting fears of a bidding war that could price the Toffees out.
But the latest report from the player’s home country says: “Now that the official contact has been made Ajax have been forced to make a decision on the future of the player who is keen on leaving on loan for playing time.”
Raised stakes
There is little time left in the window and it looks like the club are looking to squeak one in at the death ahead of the chasing pack.
By the looks of things it would be something of a coup if they manage to pull it off in the face of awkwardness from the Dutch giants and heavy interest across Europe.
Once reports came out on 19 August that suggested the move was imminent, before confusion took hold and mixed messages came out from the Johan Cruyff Arena, it seemed like the deal had died.
But Everton appear to be making a late push to get it through in time, and the player is likely to be on board considering Schreuder has given him just 24 minutes off the bench in three brief substitute outings, despite Manchester United-bound Antony being left out of the previous match.
With Anthony Gordon’s future still not settled, and despite the arrival of Neal Maupay, the club are still not blessed with an abundance of attacking threat, having sold Richarlison and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin injured.
Kudus’ versatility could make him a perfect option on loan, even if there isn’t a possibility to sign him permanently at the end.
A non-compulsory option would surely make sense since Ajax can’t seem to decide whether they value him or not, which is becoming a running theme of this summer after the dealings with Chelsea, and the pressure is now on the Dutch champions to decide.