£85m Release Clause Revealed as Liverpool Eye Premier League Star | OneFootball

Liverpool Hit Potential Stumbling Block in Reported Interest of West Ham Star

As Jurgen Klopp’s illustrious Liverpool tenure comes to a close, attentions are starting to turn towards the upcoming summer transfer window. The Reds have been linked with a range of names, but they might’ve suffered a blow in their pursuit of one of those names.

West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield, after an incredibly impressive debut season for the Hammers. It had previously been suspected that Kudus would have a release clause of around £65m, which would be available to trigger from this summer.

However, recent reports suggest that the figure is closer to £85m and can’t be triggered until the summer of 2025. Of course, this doesn’t mean that Liverpool can’t attempt to negotiate a fee with West Ham, but it certainly would make things a lot trickier.

X: @TransferSector

What that being said, would Kudus be worth such money or should Liverpool turn their attention to other targets?

A Bit More About Kudus

I remember first watching Kudus properly during his time at Ajax, when they visited Anfield to face Liverpool in the 2022-23 Champions League Group Stage. I had obviously heard good things about the forward, but it was that night that really grabbed my attention.

He caused Jurgen Klopp’s side a number of problems and even scored a brilliant goal to round off his impressive individual performance. Just a few months later, Kudus was representing Ghana at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where he would score a brace against South Korea in the group stage.

Kudus then made a £40m switch to West Ham, where has burst onto the scene of English football. The 23-year-old has scored 17 goals across all competitions this season, whilst assisting a further six.

Tactical Fit

Kudus would be the perfect fit under Arne Slot’s preferred tactical system, which is often a counter-pressing 4-2-3-1 formation. Whilst Kudus could certainly slot into any of those roles behind the striker, he’s naturally deployed as a winger on either side.

His age profile and versatility will undoubtedly make him an attractive proposition for Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, but the transfer cost could prove to be a stumbling block. It’s very hard to see Liverpool spending that £85m fee this summer, but perhaps after another impressive season in England, things may change.

With four years still remaining on his current deal at West Ham, it could certainly be a tricky negotiation but if anyone can manage that – it’s Michael Edwards

Other Targets

Should Liverpool opt for patience or even to turn their attentions away from Kudus, then there are still a number of solid options that they could explore. Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise is expected to leave this summer, with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Aston Villa all rumoured to be interested in the 22-year-old. I’d be amazed if Liverpool weren’t at least enquiring about the winger’s availability this summer.

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Another linked player is PSV’s Johan Bakayoko, who has enjoyed a quite sensational season for the Dutch champions. A bid of around £43m is expected to be enough to acquire the Belgian’s services, which may be more in Liverpool’s price range this summer, but obviously lacks the Premier League experience that the other two options hold.

Kudus and Olise would certainly be my two top picks, largely due to their familiarity with the league, high potential ceilings and also having much more versatility than Bakayoko. With that being said though, Bakayoko could still be a hugely exciting singing who could prove to be a really smart piece of business for the right price.