Stadion Wankdorf, Bern, Switzerland - March 18, 2021, Ajax Amsterdam's Mohammed Kudus in action with BSC Young Boys' Vincent Sierro.
Everton transfer target Mohammed Kudus refused to train as he tried to push through a move to Goodison Park, according to reports.
The lowdown
Dutch outlet Voetbal International reported on the penultimate day of the transfer window that Kudus wanted ‘to make the step to the Premier League’ and skipped training in an attempt to force Ajax’s hand.
Everton held a ‘concrete interest‘ in the 22-year-old midfielder, but the Eredivisie champions decided that they would not let him leave this summer.
The Independent’s Miguel Delaney claimed on Deadline Day that the Toffees had submitted a bid of £15million plus add-ons, but Ajax held firm.
The latest
Dutch media outlet Algemeen Dagblad (via Sport Witness) corroborate the claim about Kudus, and question how Ajax found themselves in that position.
“Three refusing players in one month who try to force Ajax into a transfer: how is that possible?” they ask.
The verdict
One problem Everton face is that Ajax are playing the long game.
According to Delaney, they believe Kudus will be ‘worth much more [than the fee Everton offered] within a year’.
The Blues now know that he’s desperate to join, and so they must decide whether he’s worth the elevated price tag.
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He certainly looks like a very good prospect, having earned a place in the CAF Men’s Youth Team of the Year in 2020 and winning the Sports Writers’ Association of Ghana’s Foreign Footballer of the Year Award a year later.
Kudus, who was also named Eredivisie Talent of the Month in 2021, has earned this glowing review from Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder:
“He does that very well. He plays on intuition, which makes him very difficult for opponents to defend. He is strong, fast and agile.”
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