News broke on Friday about Chelsea entering the race for Ghana national football team attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus, who plies his trade with AFC Ajax in the Dutch Eredivisie, as they look to replace Mason Mount.
The transfer news and rumours scene is currently rife with much news surrounding African talent, especially from the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Black Stars of Ghana. Kudus showed his quality at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar which helped to boost his transfer worthiness to a big club.
Could he be the perfect replacement with Chelsea losing Mount to Manchester United?
🚨 EXCL: Chelsea have made contact with Ajax to express interest in signing Mohammed Kudus. No offer yet but dialogue has taken place. 22yo attacking midfielder among options Chelsea considering + agreement close on personal terms @TheAthleticFC #CFC #Ajax https://t.co/sSg1tWhvpL
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 22, 2023
Mohammed Kudus to Chelsea details
As reported by David Ornstein of the British publication The Athletic and transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano, Mohammed Kudus became one of the options that Chelsea began to consider to reinforce their squad.
Since the arrival of Todd Boehly and his consortium at the club in 2022, the Blues have been very active in the transfer market. They were the club with the highest spending in the summer and winter windows of the 2022/23 season and now, they are the club with the most sales in the summer window of the 2023/24 season.
Mason Mount, one player who was considered the future of the club, has been moved on in a £60 million deal between Chelsea and Manchester United and that leaves a hole which reporters suggest Kudus is set to fill.
The five-time Premier League champions are believed to be planning to hijack a move for the Ghana international from Arsenal, who are also in talks with Ajax over his transfer.
Mohammed Kudus abilities, strengths, weaknesses
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is seen as Ghana’s next Abedi Pele and Asamoah Gyan – the West African nation’s next big attacking superstar who can lead them to glory in the Africa Cup of Nations and even on the global stage.
He was one of Ghana’s best performers at the Qatar World Cup which did not surprise many who have followed his short, yet rich career.
Kudus is our final piece in the jigsaw for this szn. Literally have no weaknesses if we get it done https://t.co/TAMan1hqSC
— Asad🇵🇸 (@asxd_98) July 23, 2023
A midfielder who primarily operates in the number 10 or number 8 role, Kudus is versatile enough to drop deep and help to progress the ball for his team. His strengths as an attacking midfielder make him a player that can operate in the spaces between the defenders on the opposing teams and the attackers on his team. This helps his team have an extra man at all times for goal-scoring opportunities.
He is also a very difficult player to dispossess thanks to his running style which gives him a low centre of gravity. This also helps his team win fouls in key areas which could also increase goalscoring opportunities.
Can Mohammed Kudus replace Mason Mount?
Mohammed Kudus is easily a like-for-like replacement for Mason Mount. The Ghana Black Star, however, is faster, a better defensive player, and thanks to his Ajax training, much more positionally aware.
What he can bring to the Chelsea side that is being built for the 2023/24 season is more pace which could make them one of the fastest in the English top flight.
His talents can work well with those of Christopher Nkunku who also likes to drop deep and create as often as he likes to burst into the goal area to get a shot away.
Olise, Kudus & Cherki are all extremely exciting players with extreme potential. Profiles we’ve been crying out for Chelsea to look at for ages. They all can fit this attacking mid/wing tag we are looking for, as they have clear similarities but also clear differences. I’d say… pic.twitter.com/WZmb2Xh0tF
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) July 23, 2023
It remains to be seen what the former Nordsjaelland man will do regarding his future, seeing as the prospect of playing in the UEFA Champions League lies with Arsenal, who were reported to have established contacts first.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 months ago
