Reports suggest that Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has made Ajax star Mohammed Kudus a summer transfer target. Kudus, who has scored 10 goals across 23 Eredivisie games this term, joined Ajax in 2020 and made 43 appearances under Ten Hag before the Dutch boss swapped Amsterdam for Old Trafford in the summer. The 22-year-old is capable of playing as a centre forward or in an attacking midfield position, while he’s also spent time on the right of a front three for Ajax.
Ten Hag had been considering a move for Kudus after his impressive World Cup campaign for Ghana but is now thought to have stepped up his interest. According to talkSPORT, Ten Hag has added Kudus to his list of summer transfer targets as he looks to bring yet another one of his former players to United. Ten Hag signed Antony and Lisandro Martinez from the Dutch champions last summer as he attempts to land more silverware for the Red Devils, who lifted the Carabao Cup trophy last month in what was their first major trophy in six years.
Kudus is not the only player United have stepped up their interest in since the humiliating 7-0 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool on Sunday. United have also made contact with Harry Kane’s representatives and are ‘encouraged’ by talks over possible summer move. But Kudus is another option for United and Dutch legend Marco van Basten feels he is ‘much better’ than Antony.
‘I find Mohammed Kudus a much better football player than Antony,’ Van Basten said last month. ‘Antony has his skills, but he is confused with the things he is trying to do! Kudus has much better technique and he knows what he is doing. Antony may be faster, but Kudus is smarter and more technical. He is much more of a footballer, you can place him anywhere on the pitch, an all-rounder for the team.’
It remains to be seen whether United will be successful in their pursuit of Kudus, but it’s clear that Ten Hag rates him highly and believes he could be an asset to the Red Devils. With the summer transfer window fast approaching, it will be interesting to see which players United target and whether they can secure the signings they need to compete at the highest level next season.