Brighton appear to have gained an upper hand in the chase for Mohammed Kudus, a player Arsenal and Chelsea have been closely monitoring, after agreeing on a significant £35m transfer fee with Ajax.

Ajax's Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Kudus reacts after his goal was disallowed during the UEFA Europa League play-off 2nd-leg football match between FC Union Berlin and Ajax Amsterdam in Berlin, on February 23, 2023. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP) (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)
Ajax’s Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Kudus reacts after his goal was disallowed during the UEFA Europa League play-off 2nd-leg football match between FC Union Berlin and Ajax Amsterdam in Berlin, on February 23, 2023. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP) (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)
  • Brighton near completion of a £35m deal with Ajax for Mohammed Kudus.
  • Arsenal, alongside Chelsea, had been keen on the Ghanaian international.
  • Manchester United’s pursuit of Atalanta’s Rasmus Højlund was thought to open the door for Arsenal’s intensified interest in Kudus.

Brighton’s decisive move for Mohammed Kudus might just serve as a wake-up call for Arsenal.

After agreeing on a £35 million fee with Ajax, the Seagulls seem poised to clinch a deal for the Ghanaian international, who had previously been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea and, in particular, the Gunners.

The 23-year-old’s potential move away from Ajax comes after his decision against signing a new contract with the Dutch club.

Ajax's Mohammed Kudus (L) fights for the ball with Utrecht's Mark van der Maarel during the Dutch Eredivisie football match between Ajax Amsterdam and FC Utrecht at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam, on May 21, 2023. (Photo by MAURICE VAN STEEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus (L) fights for the ball with Utrecht’s Mark van der Maarel during the Dutch Eredivisie football match between Ajax Amsterdam and FC Utrecht at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam, on May 21, 2023. (Photo by MAURICE VAN STEEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Kudus, versatile in his play, either behind the striker or on the wings, had made his intentions clear to the Ajax hierarchy about desiring a change this summer.

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His exceptional return of 11 goals and three assists in the Eredivisie last season had put him firmly on the radar of several Premier League clubs.

While Brighton seems to be leading the race, it’s worth noting Arsenal’s historical connection with the player.

With former Head of Recruitment, Sven Mislintat now at Ajax, the club’s relationship with Kudus has been a topic of discussion. Mislintat hinted that while several clubs had informally inquired about the midfielder, actual interest might not be as robust as reported.

Sporting director Sven Mislintat of VfB Stuttgart seen during the Second Bundesliga match between VfB Stuttgart and 1. FC Nürnberg at Mercedes-Benz Arena on December 09, 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany.
STUTTGART, GERMANY – DECEMBER 09: Sporting director Sven Mislintat of VfB Stuttgart seen during the Second Bundesliga match between VfB Stuttgart and 1. FC Nürnberg at Mercedes-Benz Arena on December 09, 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Despite this, as the transfer deadline looms, Mislintat expects the transfer fee to escalate.

Mohammed Kudus’s desire to make a mark in the Premier League has been evident for some time. His performances with Ajax, especially in the Eredivisie where he notched up 23 goals in 84 games and won two league titles, bolster his impressive CV.

Further enhancing his profile were his performances at the World Cup for Ghana, where he netted twice in three group games.

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