Arsenal leave David Sullivan sweating with crushing decision on another West Ham star..
Arsenal have left West Ham majority owner David Sullivan sweating with a crushing decision, Hammers News can reveal.
Hammers News exclusive
West Ham and Arsenal are set to be among the busiest clubs in the Premier League in this summer’s transfer window.
The Hammers are facing another big turnaround of players after a disastrous season with Graham Potter looking to completely revamp an ageing squad.
Mikel Arteta meanwhile is promising one of Arsenal’s biggest and most exciting transfer windows for years.
“It’s going to be a big one (summer) and we are very excited about it,” Arteta told Sky Sports this week.
“Every summer is big. But it’s a big summer for many things because first of all we have to maintain the good foundations that we have and then obviously how can we improve and evolve the team.”
Massive summer windows loom for West Ham and Arsenal
The last time the Gunners went out and spend major money to evolve the team, they came knocking on West Ham’s door.
A deal was done to take Declan Rice to the Emirates for a then record £105m two summers ago.
On the whole, West Ham have not reinvested that money wisely.
Particularly in midfield, where the club has failed miserable to come anywhere close to replacing what Rice brought to the team.
After burning through that Rice money over the last two summer windows – quite literally following West Ham’s £69m deal with Barclays – PSR is set to bite in east London.
It means David Sullivan and the Hammers board are now relying on player sales to fund signings for Potter and new head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay.
Inside West Ham’s London Stadium. Inset, Hammers boss Graham Potter, majority owner David Sullivan and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay.
Inside West Ham’s London Stadium. Inset, Hammers boss Graham Potter, majority owner David Sullivan and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay. Credit: Getty Images/Julian Finney/Rob Newell/Craig Mercer/Athena Pictures/MB Media/CameraSport
West Ham plan to raise well over £100m in sales.
And the Hammers have been living on a prayer that the Gunners might provide them with a big chunk of it.
But now Arsenal have left Sullivan sweating with a crushing decision on another West Ham star.
Arteta has been heavily linked with a move for West Ham star Mohammed Kudus since last summer.
After a scintillating first season in east London, in which he provided 20 goal contributions, it emerged Kudus has an £85m release clause in his Hammers contract.
Last summer that looked like it may have been set too low, so good were Kudus’ performances.
Arsenal were among those linked – and they had reportedly been interested prior to West Ham signing the Ghanaian from Ajax.
Hammers face Kudus sale necessity
Kudus was one of the best players on the pitch when Potter’s side beat Arsenal 1-0 recently.
After a much-publicised row with Julen Lopetegui at Brentford earlier this season, the star boy was pictured at the Emirates watching Arsenal in the Champions League.
Kudus played down the visit afterwards, saying he had gone to watch international teammate Thomas Partey.
It is widely accepted that selling Kudus is a necessity in order for West Ham to rebuild.
Arsenal were one of several clubs interested with Man City, Liverpool and Saudi sides reportedly also considering a move.
But Hammers News understands there has been a major development in the situation this week.
The Gunners announced their successor to sporting director Edu, with Andrea Berta, formerly of Atletico Madrid, taking the reins.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Arsenal leave Sullivan sweating with crushing decision on Kudus
Kudus has been linked with a big money move to Al-Nassr which promises to save West Ham’s window.
But it emerged the release clause for Saudi clubs is set even higher than European sides.
Now West Ham’s options are dwindling.
Because Arsenal have moved on from Kudus in devastating style.
A top transfer source with knowledge of the situation has told Hammers News that Arteta and Berta have killed Arsenal’s interest in Kudus with talks already underway to sign a new target.
Originally Arsenal had the idea of bringing Kudus in to play off the left – with Bukayo Saka on the right.
But his performances have been so underwhelming for West Ham, Arsenal have moved on to one of the best players in La Liga – and someone Berta knows very well indeed.
Potter has admitted Kudus has been disappointing this season after scoring just three goals and laying on one assist.
That form, and his inability to be as effective when playing off the left for West Ham, has ended Arsenal’s interest.
New Gunners director ditches Kudus for Williams
“There was clear interest from Arsenal in Kudus – even before he signed for West Ham,” the senior transfer source told Hammers News on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships.
“But ironically Arsenal couldn’t push for a deal at the time because they were spending most of their money buying Rice.
“Had Kudus performed like he did last season then there would be a bidding war and Arsenal probably would have been at the front of the queue.
“He’s done OK besides his end product this season. But Arsenal are not going to take any risks when spending that level of money. The new man in charge of transfers has already moved on, it’s safe to say West Ham will have to find another buyer now.
“Kudus will be disappointed too as I’m told he liked the idea of joining the Gunners and playing in the Champions League.”
Berta is now instead going back to his old club for Bilbao’s Spain superstar Nico Williams.
No sooner had the transfer source revealed the Gunners had ended their interest in Kudus than The Guardian is reporting initial talks have been held with Berta’s former club over Williams.
It means Arsenal won’t be getting West Ham out of a hole this summer.
Back to the drawing board for the Hammers as hopes appear to rest solely on Saudi.
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