Arsenal have reportedly shortlisted West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus with the view of signing the player next summer.
Kudus has quickly taken to life in the Premier League after arriving from Ajax for £38m last summer, becoming one of the Hammers' key players.
Signed just after West Ham won the Conference League under David Moyes, the Ghanaian was part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League last season.
In his debut season in East London, Kudus scored 17 goals in all competitions, and his importance to the team has been illustrated by their underwhelming results since he received a five-match ban following his sending off against Tottenham Hotspur.
Since Moyes's departure, Julen Lopetegui is currently struggling to reach the same heights and West Ham, at this present moment, look unlikely to challenge the European places this season.
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Kudus to move across London?
After playing regular Champions League football at Ajax, and in the Europa League last season, missing out on continental football two seasons in a row could push Kudus closer to the exit from the London Stadium.
Fichajes claim that Arsenal may use this to their advantage and target a move for the 24-year-old in order to bolster their attack next season.
The report states that the Gunners will move for the player over the coming months, and could even be tempted to pay Kudus's release clause, which is valued at £83m.
Kudus's contract runs until 2028, so West Ham are unlikely to settle for much less than that figure, but a season fighting relegation could make it hugely difficult for them to hold onto one of their prize possessions.
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Where might Arsenal want to improve?
Bukayo Saka's place on the right-hand side of attack is locked in, but Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could opt to strengthen centrally and on the left following a fairly sluggish start this season, that sees them nine points adrift of Liverpool already.
The Gunners have scored just four goals in their last six matches across the Premier League and Champions League, falling to defeat on three occasions, and winning only once, at home to Shakhtar Donetsk.
Raheem Sterling's loan signing is evidently not working out, as he has been an unused sub in the last three games for which he was available, while neither Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli can nail down a place in the side consistently on the left-wing.
Kudus has proven capable of starting on the left, but his time at Ajax also shows that he can be utilised as a central striker, playing there much of the campaign when he got 18 goals in his final season in Amsterdam.
Andrew Delaney
