Liverpool look set to be in the market for a new attacker during the summer transfer window.
The Reds have so far been quiet in the market since the end of the season. perhaps leading to some anxiety amongst supporters.
Although the Liverpool squad is still packed full of talent, it does feel as though Arne Slot could do with one or two additions to challenge for the Premier League title next season.
According to journalist David Ornstein last month, Liverpool are looking to add a forward to Slot’s group before September.
As a result, numerous players have been linked with the Reds. Spain’s Nico Williams is the latest reported to be high on the wish list. Williams follows Mohammed Kudus, who’s potential summer move has just been given an interesting update.
Journalist offers Mohammed Kudus release clause update
Kudus had an excellent debut season with West Ham. After scoring 14 goals and providing six assists, Kudus has reportedly made his way onto Liverpool’s radar.
With West Ham having paid just under £40m to sign the 23-year-old last summer though, it has always felt like a potentially expensive deal for Liverpool to make.
However, it has previously been reported by journalist Fabrizio Romano that Kudus has a release clause in his contract. Unfortunately, the insinuation was that the clause would not become active until next year.
It had also appeared that the value of the get-out stipulation would be more than double what West Ham paid for the Ghanaian.
READ MORE: Five wingers Liverpool could realistically sign this summer, including Mohammed Kudus
Now, journalist Florian Plettenberg has taken to X on to confirm that to be the case. Liverpool would have to pay an eye-watering £85m to ensure the signing of Kudus.
Interestingly though, Plettenberg claims that Kudus can be signed for a set fee before the end of August. The clause is active now.
“Been told again: The release clause for Mohammed Kudus of £85 million is already active this summer!” says the reporter.
“RC can be activated at any time. It is not only valid starting next summer!”
How much should Liverpool pay to sign Mohammed Kudus?
While it’s clear that Kudus is a very good player, £85m sounds like an awful lot to pay to sign him.
That kind of fee would break Liverpool’s all-time transfer record. For someone with just one year in a top-five league under his belt, that would seem like a lot.
Nevertheless, the Reds paid a similar fee to sign Darwin Nunez in 2022, and he had even less experience than Kudus.
The fact remains that Kudus has been tipped to become a ‘superstar‘ of the game over the next couple of years. If Liverpool share that view, then maybe they’ll see his release clause as a unique opportunity.
It should be said that Nunez’s fee was agreed without the backing of Michael Edwards, though. Paying such a large amount of money on a player like the Uruguayan is not usually in Edwards’ playbook.
As a result, we can’t see Liverpool triggering Kudus’ clause. They could come in with a bid of something between £50-60m, but it seems unlikely that West Ham would play ball. Maybe one to put on the back-burner.