Newcastle United want to sign West Ham United star: How much should the Hammers demand?

As the summer transfer window heats up, Newcastle United have identified West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus as a prime target to bolster their attacking options.

The Magpies, fresh off securing Champions League qualification for the 2025-26 season, view the Ghanaian international as the ideal candidate to add creativity and versatility to their frontline.

Kudus’ debut Premier League campaign with West Ham proved a microcosm of the club’s turbulent season – flashes of brilliance undermined by inconsistency.

The 24-year-old winger found himself deployed across multiple positions as manager Graham Potter experimented with various formations, never quite settling into a defined role. While this tactical instability limited Kudus’ ability to showcase his full potential, his technical quality and adaptability still caught the attention of Newcastle’s recruitment team.

The Magpies’ interest comes at a pivotal moment for both clubs. West Ham, needing to balance their books while complying with Premier League financial regulations, may view Kudus as a valuable asset to cash in on.

Despite signing from Ajax for £38 million just last summer and being contracted until 2028, the Hammers appear open to negotiations – especially if they can turn a profit on their initial investment.

Newcastle’s approach presents West Ham with a delicate dilemma. On one hand, selling a player of Kudus’ age and talent after just one season seems counterintuitive for a club striving for stability.

His ability to operate across the front line, combined with his dribbling skills and eye for goal, make him precisely the type of player most teams covet. Yet financial realities may force West Ham’s hand, particularly if Newcastle meets their reported £45-50 million valuation.

The potential transfer carries intriguing implications for both clubs. For Newcastle, acquiring Kudus would represent another statement signing in their ongoing evolution under ambitious ownership.

His Champions League experience with Ajax and adaptability to multiple attacking roles would provide Eddie Howe with valuable tactical flexibility as the Magpies prepare for their European campaign.

The Ghanaian’s ability to play on either wing or through the middle could prove particularly useful in managing squad rotation across multiple competitions.

West Ham, meanwhile, would face the challenge of replacing Kudus’ unique skill set. While the financial windfall could help fund a squad rebuild, finding a player capable of matching his combination of technical quality and positional versatility won’t be straightforward.

Manager Graham Potter would need to identify alternative targets who better fit his preferred system – potentially using the funds to address multiple areas of the squad rather than seeking a like-for-like replacement.

Complicating matters is the reported interest from Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, which could spark a bidding war and drive up Kudus’ price.

While the Middle Eastern club’s financial muscle is formidable, Newcastle can offer the appeal of Premier League and Champions League football – factors that may prove decisive in the player’s decision-making process.

For Kudus himself, the move would represent an opportunity to establish himself at a club with clear upward trajectory. After an inconsistent debut Premier League season, the chance to work under Eddie Howe’s progressive coaching could help unlock his full potential.

Newcastle’s style of play, which emphasizes attacking football and gives creative players freedom to express themselves, appears well-suited to Kudus’ strengths.

As negotiations potentially develop in the coming weeks, this transfer saga will test both clubs’ strategic planning. Newcastle must decide how much of their transfer budget to allocate to a player who, while undoubtedly talented, hasn’t yet consistently dominated the Premier League.

West Ham face the classic mid-table conundrum – whether to cash in on a valuable asset or retain a player who could be central to their ambitions.

One thing is certain: Kudus’ future will be one of the more intriguing subplots of this summer’s transfer window, with ramifications that could shape both clubs’ fortunes in the season ahead.

For Newcastle, securing his signature would represent another step in their transformation; for West Ham, his departure could either become a shrewd piece of business or a missed opportunity – depending on how effectively they reinvest any potential windfall.