There is plenty of intrigue surrounding who Liverpool will target in the summer transfer window.
With Michael Edwards back overseeing things and highly-rated sporting director Richard Hughes set to join him, there is an expectation that Liverpool will do some good business once again.
Slowly, news is filtering out about what positions the pair will look to upgrade in the Liverpool squad.
First of all, a centre-back appears to be the priority, but there have been claims that a wide forward will be targeted, too.
The reporter who broke the latter news was The Athletic’s David Ornstein. And engaging in a Q&A with the outlet’s readers on Friday, Ornstein suggested one of the names who could be on Liverpool’s list.
Liverpool likely to be tracking Mohammed Kudus
As we know from Edwards’ previous stint at Liverpool, it’s unwise to try and predict too much of what he’ll plan in the transfer market.
Reds’ supporters have become rather used to expecting the unexpected with the data guru pulling the strings. Nevertheless, there is a certain profile of player he likes to target. And according to Ornstein, one on Liverpool’s ‘radar’ is likely to be West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus.
“From what I hear a wide forward is among the areas Liverpool are exploring heading into the summer window,” explains the journalist when asked about the Reds’ possible interest in Kudus.
“I don’t know if Kudus is an option but he is a brilliant player,” he adds. “He has enjoyed an excellent debut season and it would be surprising if he wasn’t on the radar of Liverpool and any other leading club looking to strengthen in that part of the pitch.
“It isn’t an alleged release clause, there is one – as has been reported in various places. I don’t know the details but Kudus is not alone in having such a mechanism in his contract; Paqueta and other West Ham players do, too. You’ll remember it was one of the reasons why he didn’t end up joining Brighton.
“I have no idea if it would be a hindrance or a help… that depends on the terms and the financial situations of his potential suitors. West Ham will of course want to keep Kudus and build with him.”
Why should Liverpool target Mohammed Kudus
After joining West Ham for around £38m last summer, Kudus has been a big hit at the London Stadium.
For a while last year it had looked as though the Ghanaian might be on his way to Anfield. In fact, Liverpool were even slammed by pundit Nigel Reo-Coker for not pushing harder to sign Kudus.
Since then, that has looked like a fair comment from Reo-Coker. The 23-year-old has scored 13 goals and laid on five assists in 42 games for West Ham.
Although not ground-breaking numbers, Kudus’ performances have warranted claims that he could even go on to become better than Mohamed Salah.
While we’re not sure about that, as a left-footed forward Kudus looks like potentially the closest thing to Salah out there right now. As Ornstein says, Liverpool should be aware of him. Let’s see if any move materialises.