Mohammed Kudus issues fiery response to damning agent claim amid Brighton transfer links
Ajax winger Mohammed Kudus saw a proposed transfer to Brighton fall through during the summer window
Arsenal-linked Ajax forward Mohammed Kudus has issued a fiery response after a social media account claimed his ‘difficult’ representatives caused a proposed transfer to Brighton to collapse.
The 23-year-old Ghana international appeared to be heading to the Premier League this summer when the Seagulls reached an agreement in principle for his signature. Kudus was set to cost around £34.5million.
However, for the time being at least, the player remains in Amsterdam after Brighton seemingly walked away from negotiations. Arsenal and north London rivals Tottenham continue to be mooted as possible suitors, though, before the deadline passes at 11pm on Friday, September 1.
Kudus, who signed for Ajax three years ago, scored for the Eredivisie giants in the season curtain raiser vs Heracles Almelo on Saturday night, playing the entire 90 minutes. He has been unable to completely side-step debate on his future, though, as highlighted in a short social media exchange.
An account dedicated to Ajax coverage (@TheEuropeanLad) reposted some transfer gossip, about Kudus, in which it was suggested that no club has been able to accept their demands this summer. It added there was frustration at Brighton when representatives attempted to move the goal-posts.
Replying to that post – which has since been deleted along with the original source (@vl_nl) – Kudus uploaded an emoji and the initials BS! Although the initial content has been deleted, the response from Kudus is still available to view on revamped social media platform X.
Having taken first steps in his career back in Ghana, the 24-cap international moved to Danish outfit Nordsjaelland on a free transfer before the 2018/2019 season. After two years there, Ajax paid €9million for his services and Kudus has since totted-up 85 games for the Amsterdam giants – providing 24 goals and 11 assists.
Kudus won back-to-back Eredivisie crowns with Ajax under now-Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and he, also, helped them lift the KNVB Cup in 2021. His contract at the club runs until 2025.
Three Brighton players expected to leave on loan before the window closes
The Brighton boss was speaking ahead of his side’s first away trip of the season to face Wolves at Molineux on Saturday, August 19.
De Zerbi has recently seen his talismanic midfielder Moises Caicedo sold to Chelsea for a record £115m and youngster Odel Offiah loaned out to Hearts for the rest of this season.
It seems the club are not finished there, after the Italian hinted that there would be more outgoings from the Amex Stadium in the next two weeks.
When asked who might be going, De Zerbi said: “[Yasin] Ayari, and we will see about Steven Alzate and Facundo Buonanotte because I would like to give them and all players the right space, but the rules of football means you can only play 11 players.”
Ayari joined the Albion in January of this year from AIK for £3.5m. The Swedish midfielder has struggled to force his way into the Brighton side since joining, making just four appearances and being left out of the matchday squad for the Luton win last Saturday (August 12).
Buonanotte was also signed by the Sussex side in the winter transfer window and was a more prominent member of the first team squad, scoring one goal and assisting two in 13 appearances.
However, the signing of Joao Pedro, reintegration of loan star Simon Adingra and return of Adam Lallana has knocked the young Argentinian down the pecking order in De Zerbi’s attacking options, meaning he may be forced to find regular first-team football elsewhere.
Alzate had spent last season out on loan at Standard Liege and many had expected the midfielder to be a part of De Zerbi’s plans this season, following the sales of Caicedo and Mac Allister.
The 24-year-old had impressed whilst playing out in Belgium, but it seems the club are keen to bring in at least one new midfielder with the money generated from the Caicedo sale and send Alzate back out on loan for another season.
Brighton currently have 11 players out on loan already; including Abdallah Sima (Rangers), Jeremy Sarmiento (West Brom) and Deniz Undav (Stuttgart).
The club strongly believe in using loan moves as a pathway into their first-team, having successfully used it to develop Caicedo, Mac Allister and Ben White into key members of the first-team squad.
