Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Mohammed Kudus has officially entered crunch time, with the club stepping up efforts to land their top summer transfer target. Spurs made a formal offer to West Ham United on Thursday night, believed to be worth £50 million, but the Hammers have rejected the bid, according to multiple top-tier sources.
Yet despite the knock-back, direct negotiations are still ongoing, and crucially, Kudus has made it known that he wants to join Tottenham.
📞 Spurs Make Their Move — Kudus Prioritises North London
David Ornstein of The Athletic confirmed that Spurs submitted a ÂŁ50m bid, which was turned down. However, he added that club-to-club talks are continuing, and that personal terms between Tottenham and Kudus are not expected to be an issue.
The 24-year-old Ghanaian international is keen on the move and is said to be prioritising a switch to N17 over other options if he does leave West Ham this summer.
💬 Personal Terms Positive – Kudus On Board With Spurs Project
Fabrizio Romano also reiterated that talks between Kudus and Spurs regarding personal terms and the project have been very positive, with the player open and engaged.
There is no indication that Kudus is holding out for another destination — in fact, Spurs appear to be his preferred choice at this stage. Negotiations now hinge entirely on whether Spurs and West Ham can find a compromise on price and structure.
💰 West Ham Hold Firm – But Open to Deal Below Release Clause
According to Ben Jacobs, Tottenham remain locked in talks following their rejected bid, but there is optimism a deal can be struck. While Kudus has an ÂŁ85m Premier League release clause, West Ham are reportedly not demanding that full amount and would likely accept a package in the region of ÂŁ60m.
Jacobs also confirmed Kudus is Spurs’ top priority, while interest in other attacking midfielders — like Eberechi Eze — has cooled. In fact, Spurs are no longer pursuing Eze, who now looks likelier to join Arsenal should he leave Crystal Palace.
⚔️ Chelsea Looming – But West Ham Prefer Them Over Spurs
While Spurs remain front-runners in terms of the player’s preference, Chelsea are still in the background. Jacob Steinberg reports that West Ham are expecting Chelsea to return with a new offer if they sell winger Noni Madueke.
Interestingly, the Hammers are said to be reluctant to sell Kudus to Tottenham, given the cross-London rivalry, but are far more open to dealing with Chelsea — potentially complicating Spurs’ pursuit.
Still, Kudus’ personal stance may override West Ham’s internal preferences. If he pushes for the move to N17, the East London club may have no choice but to engage seriously with Spurs’ terms.
⚠️ Two More Clubs In The Race
According to Romano, two other clubs remain in the race to sign Kudus, though their identities haven’t been revealed. For now, Tottenham are in a strong position, especially given the player’s enthusiasm, but any delay or hesitation could open the door for late hijacks.
🧠Final Word: Kudus Chase Nearing Boiling Point
Tottenham are playing it smart — pushing for a deal on favourable terms while also staying within their financial boundaries. But with Kudus now clearly on board, and other suitors lurking, the time for decisive action may be approaching.
With Thomas Frank building his squad around high-intensity, dynamic attackers, Kudus fits the blueprint perfectly. Now it’s down to Daniel Levy and the recruitment team to get this deal over the line.
Tick-tock — the Kudus race is heating up fast.
