WEST HAM are progressing talks with Ajax over Mohammed Kudus.
Hammers technical director Tim Steidten is in Holland for face-to-face talks to get a deal for the £40m-rated midfielder over the line.
Mohammed Kudus has been linked to Prem clubs and is near to joining West HamRex
GettyThe Hammers are battling to keep Man City target Lucas Paqueta[/caption]
The Ghanaian ace, 23, was close to joining Brighton earlier in the window only for the move to break down over a release clause request in his contract.
West Ham are understood to be more flexible, and boss David Moyes is desperate for more depth and pace in midfield with Lucas Paqueta’s future still up in the air.
Brazilian playmaker Paqueta, 25, has had his head turned by interest from Manchester City, who are pondering whether to make a significant bid.
Paqueta has an £85m release clause that is active next summer.
West Ham would only consider offers that hit this value, but are not looking to sell the player.
In an ideal world, Kudus would join a midfield that still has Paqueta, as well as two new faces in another ex-Ajax star Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse from Southampton.
However, there is a growing belief that Paqueta sees his future at Pep Guardiola’s Treble winners, with Kudus viewed a direct replacement.
West Ham have already splashed out £65m on Alvarez and Ward-Prowse this summer, and are also looking for another central defender following a failed £30m bid for Manchester United’s Harry Maguire.
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Bayer Leverkusen trio Jonathan Tah, 27, Edmond Tapsoba, 24, and Odilon Kossounou, 22, are all targets – the former club of Steidten.
Ex-Arsenal centre back Konstantinos Mavropanos, 25 – now at Stuttgart – is also being looked at.
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