Speculation has been rife over the future of Mohammed Kudus and now he has dropped a major hint over where he sees his future.
West Ham’s place in the football food chain means that whenever the club has a special player they are linked with moves away.
It has always been thus for West Ham.
And failure to qualify for Europe certainly doesn’t help change the narrative around the club’s top stars.
Lucas Paqueta continues to be linked with Man City having been stopped from joining them by the FA investigation into him last summer.
Despite signing a seven-year deal this season, Jarrod Bowen is continually linked with Liverpool and others too.
Hammers fans had to listen to two years of incessant rumour about Declan Rice before he upset many fans by joining London rivals Arsenal.
The golden generation of Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and co were all sold off one by one. So West Ham fans have been there, done that and got the t-shirt when it comes to their top stars moving on.
Every now and again, though, a player comes along who is so good that it stings that little bit more when they do leave.
Most West Ham fans have made peace with Paqueta leaving. The Brazilian has been indifferent for long periods either side of a wonderful spell in the middle of his two years with the club.
Kudus linked with move away
But with Mohammed Kudus, it’s different.
West Ham genuinely have one of the top players in world football on their hands. And how Tim Steidten got him for just £38m is anyone’s guess.
It has been confirmed that Kudus, like Paqueta and many top players at non elite clubs, does indeed have a release clause.
The clause is said to be £85m like Paqueta. But, crucially, it is not active until next summer.
That has not stopped speculation that a club will come in and bid big for him this summer, though.
That’s how good Kudus is. And his sublime overhead kick against Man City only underlined that fact.
West Ham fans can stomach losing Paqueta this summer, but not Kudus – their true best player.
Now Kudus has dropped a major hint over whether he sees his future at West Ham.
Kudus drops major hint over West Ham future
And it seems there may be some very good news for Hammers supporters today.
From the sound of it, he’s planning to be with the club next season despite all the speculation.
The star boy from Ghana says he is only just getting started and appears to suggest he fully intends showing West Ham he can do even more next season.
“Thanks to everyone at the club, the staff, the players, the coaches, player care (department), everyone around the club,” Kudus said in an interview with West Ham TV, which you can watch below.
“They really helped me to really settle in quite well and big credit to myself also for believing in myself and then putting in the effort day in, day out you know.
“So it can only get better you know. I’m still far off how I see myself performing in this league and doing my best. So it’s good to get the first season on the run but I have a long way to go and there’s more stuff coming ahead…
“This is just the beginning, I’ve tested the waters now and I’m ready to let it run it for next season…
“We are looking to do even better than this season.”
A massive relief for the Hammers
This will be a massive relief for everyone connected with West Ham United.
It is absolutely key the Hammers retain Kudus for at least one more season.
We must accept Kudus will one day eventually move on – as hard as it will be to take when the time comes.
Work in the meantime behind the scenes must take place to find his eventual successor.
And that’s how West Ham must operate going forward. The owners must make sure the days of this club having its best players pilfered for pathetic fees are long gone.
Get the money they are worth when the time is right for all concerned and re-invest in the next Kudus.
At least we can all refresh this summer knowing we’ll be watching our new talisman in the claret and blue next season.