Transfer: Chelsea eye West Ham’s Kudus

Chelsea are among several clubs interested in West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus, with early talks underway and the possibility of a player swap being discussed as part of the deal.

Chelsea are among the clubs who have shown an interest in signing West Ham playmaker Mohammed Kudus. BBC Sport sources confirm that the Blues have already held initial talks with the Hammers over the Ghana international.

Kudus has an £85million buy-out clause, although Saudi Arabian clubs have put the figure at £120million. During preliminary negotiations, the possibility of including a Chelsea player in the deal has been mooted, with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez one of the names mentioned.

However, Chelsea are not the only club interested, with at least one other Premier League club and several overseas clubs monitoring the player’s situation. Kudus would be open to leaving the London Stadium this summer, especially if the opportunity to play in the Champions League arises.

West Ham, meanwhile, are considering selling one of their top players in order to reinvest in the squad for next season. It remains to be seen whether the Hammers will accept a figure lower than the clause, given the high level of interest in Kudus in the market.