A source close to West Ham majority owner David Sullivan has made a claim about a Mohammed Kudus release clause that will delight Liverpool.
But the Hammers will still have time to enjoy their star boy even if he does join the Reds.
Mohammed Kudus only joined West Ham last summer, but vultures like Liverpool are already circling.
The outstanding Ghanian has been superb since joining from Ajax for a bargain £38.5m.
And Liverpool clearly think so too judging by recent reports.
The Reds have been heavily linked with the West Ham attacker – who became the first player to amass 100 take-ons in Europe’s top five leagues against Liverpool at the weekend.
There has been claim and counter claim about Kudus and a reported release clause in his contract.
Indeed stories around the time he was signing for West Ham claimed he chose the Hammers over Brighton because David Sullivan and co agreed to insert a release clause.
Liverpool linked with West Ham star boy Kudus
Whether that is true and how much it might be is anyone’s guess.
But that has not stopped Liverpool being linked, especially with further doubt over Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield of late.
Claims about a Kudus release clause were allegedly made by David Ornstein on a recent video update according to Claret and Hugh.
That site reached out to top sources at the club for clarification but the Hammers were staying tight-lipped.
Hammers News has also approached the top source inside the boardroom about the alleged clause and, perhaps worryingly, met with the same stony silence.
Well now a Sullivan confidant’s Kudus release clause claim will delight Liverpool but West Ham have time.
Kudus release clause claim will delight Liverpool
Sean Whetstone counts Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady among his contacts.
He has claimed to have also met with radio silence when approaching club sources about Liverpool potentially activating a release clause in Kudus’ contract.
But he has clarified the situation if there is one which is good news for Liverpool in the long term and for the Hammers in the short term.
Because regardless if there is a clause, West Ham will keep hold of their star boy until at least next summer.
“There has been much debate whether Hammer Mo Kudus has a release clause with club sources staying tight lipped on the subject,” Whetstone said.
“But West Ham fans should not despair as release clauses only activate after the third transfer window following their signing.
“Meaning a release clause will not be active until July 2025 if one actually exists in the case of Kudus.”
West Ham still have time to enjoy Kudus regardless
Release clauses are not uncommon in the modern game.
And sadly for clubs outside the elite – such as West Ham – if you want to get these top young players ahead of others you sometimes have to bite the bullet and include such clauses.
Every player has their price of course. So a release clause is just a guarantee of getting certain value for a player.
Set it too low, though, and it could leave owners red-faced.
In an ideal world Kudus does not have a release clause. But if he does let’s just enjoy him while we have him for the next year and cross that Liverpool bridge if and when the time comes.
Who knows by then the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG or Man City might be blowing Liverpool out of the water anyway. He’s that good.