Chelsea ‘make contact’ with Ajax to sign £40m Mohammed Kudus and are ‘close’ on personal terms

Chelsea are set to enter the race to sign Mohammed Kudus having reportedly ‘made contact’ with Ajax to sign the attacking midfielder.

It comes as Mauricio Pochettino’s side are locked in a stand-off with Brighton over the availability of £100million star Moises Caicedo, with Roberto De Zerbi holding a firm stance over the Ecuadorian’s availability. 

But according to The Athletic, the Blues have now also ‘made contact’ with the Dutch side to ‘express their interest’ in signing the £40m rated star, Kudus.

The outlet reports that while the London club have not yet submitted a concrete offer to sign the Ajax midfielder, they are ‘close’ to agreeing personal terms, with ‘initial dialogue’s’ having already taken place.

His contract is set to expire in 2025, with Mail Sport reporting that Kudus has already rejected a contract extension offer from Ajax in April after telling the Dutch giants that he wished to leave in the summer.

Chelsea have ‘made contact’ with Ajax attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus and are ‘close’ to agreeing personal terms

Mauricio Pochettino’s (pictured) side have not made an official bid yet but are in the market for a new attacking midfielder after the departure of Kai Havertz to Arsenal

Arsenal and Brighton are also interested in signing Kudus (left) who’s contract will expire in 2025 

The Ghana international was snapped up by the Eredivisie side back in 2020 for £8m after impressing during his time at former club FC Nordsjaelland. 

He would get off to a slow start to life in Amsterdam, struggling to assert his place in the team behind Anthony, who left for Manchester United in in 2022. Kudus was second best in the pecking order, but upon the Brazilian’s departure he’s flourished at the Dutch club, scoring 11 times in 30 league appearances last season.

He was integral for Ajax during their Champions League run last year too, scoring in four of his six appearances in the competition, notably scoring against Liverpool at Anfield. 

The promising star’s impressive performances have attracted the attention of many clubs in the Premier League, with Everton being heavily linked with the attacking midfielder last year while Erik ten Hag had also been eyeing up a move for his former midfielder, before United signed Mason Mount. 

Roberto De Zerbi (pictured) is looking to find a replacement for Alexis MacAllister, who departed earlier this summer and Kudus could be a good replacement

Ajax are set to hold out for £40million for the Ghanian international who impressed in last season’s Champions League

Arsenal and Brighton are the latest clubs who have been interested in signing Kudus. 

The Gunners are currently looking to offload a few players amid the arrivals of Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber but are still keen to make new additions to their squad.

Brighton, meanwhile, are looking for a replacement for Alexis MacAllister, who joined Liverpool earlier this summer. 

Kudus is a powerful player who carries plenty of speed and plays in a similar advanced role to that of MacAllister. He could be an excellent addition to De Zerbi’s squad following the Argentine’s departure. 

But Brighton may have to beat Chelsea to sign him with the Blues also looking to improve their attacking midfield stocks, having lost Kai Havertz to Arsenal earlier this summer.