West Ham have submitted a bid for the Rennes winger, Jérémy Doku, but they are struggling to agree a fee with Ajax for Mohammed Kudus.
The club are looking for attacking reinforcements and are trying to beat Manchester City to the signing of Doku. City see Doku, a 21-year-old Belgium international, as a replacement for Riyad Mahrez following the Algerian winger’s move to Saudi Arabia. West Ham hope they can tempt Doku, who is believed to have an asking price of £47m, by offering the youngster regular first-team football.
West Ham, who are set to announce the €20m (£17m) signing of the Greece centre-back Konstantinos Mavrapanos from Stuttgart, were expected to lose Lucas Paquetá to City before it emerged that the Brazil midfielder is being investigated by the Football Association for a potential breach of betting regulations. Their move for the France Under-21 striker, Elye Wahi, depended on Paquetá departing. Wahi is leaving Montpellier for Lens for €30m.
Paquetá staying has not stopped West Ham pursuing Kudus, who can play in attacking midfield or as a striker. Tim Steidten, West Ham’s technical director, travelled to Amsterdam last week to hold talks with Ajax.
Personal terms have been agreed with Kudusbut Ajax are holding out for £44m for the Ghanaian , who has had interest from Arsenal, Brighton and Chelsea, and West Ham are reluctant to pay over £41m. Discussions have stalled and the deal is in major doubt. West Ham could hand a short-term deal to Jesse Lingard, who is a free agent after leaving Nottingham Forest.
