Former Ghana defender John Paintsil has advised his compatriot and Black Stars attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus not to rush into leaving West Ham unless an “unbelievable” offer arrives in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Paintsil believes West Ham still provides Kudus with the right playing conditions, including regular minutes and motivation. The former right-back, who played for the Hammers between 2006 and 2008, sees the club as an excellent platform for Kudus to develop further before making a move to a bigger team in the future.
In an exclusive interview with The Nerve Africa, Paintsil, 43, stated:
“I think it’s still early for Kudus to leave West Ham, as they value him highly as one of their key players. Staying for one more season will set him up for a bigger deal in the future,” he said.
“He’s an incredibly talented player who can operate in various positions. For Kudus and West Ham to secure the best possible deal, it should come after one more brilliant season. Then, he’ll get a big move, and West Ham will also receive the right fee,” added Paintsil, who earned 89 caps for Ghana’s Black Stars.
“At the moment, unless an unbelievable offer comes in, he should stay. There’s no need to rush a move away. From what I see, he seems happy at West Ham, so there’s no reason for pressure. He is the star of the team,” the former Fulham, West Ham, and Leicester defender remarked.
Kudus’ current contract with the Hammers runs until the summer of 2028. The 24-year-old joined West Ham at the start of the 2023/24 season from Ajax and has since played a total of 70 games, scoring 16 goals and providing eight assists.
Related article: Striking Success: Mohammed Kudus’s Meteoric Rise in Salary
The Ghanaian playmaker has recently been linked with moves to Premier League giants Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Manchester United. Other reports suggest interest from the Saudi Pro League, with Al Nassr and Al Ittihad among the potential suitors.
