Betrayed! Former Arsenal director threatens Kudus price hike
Tom Weber
- Updated: 29 Jul 2023 11:40 BST
- 3 min read
Ajax sporting director Sven Mislintat has opened up about the potential departure of Mohammed Kudus.
The Ghanaian has been keen to get a big-money move away from the Netherlands for months after the Dutch giants missed out on Champions League football. Linked with Arsenal and Chelsea, Kudus prefers the former, as we have been able to exclusively reveal, precisely because they will compete in Europe.
Nothing concrete has developed on that front as yet, however, which could complicate matters further down the line. The Gunners have thus far got their business done early, signing Kai Havertz and, with a slight delay, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber relatively early in the transfer window.
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If they want to get Kudus in as well for an affordable price - seeing as though they have already spent well in excess of €200 million - they will have to move swiftly as we head into the final month of the window. And if they think they can get a discount from their former recruitment chief Sven Mislintat, they are sorely mistaken.
What did Mislintat say?
Speaking to Algemeen Dagblad, the German gave his thoughts on the situation surrounding the wantaway attacker and what will happen if Arsenal - or any other club - drag their feet in trying to sign him.
"The best thing," Mislintat said, "is if Kudus and [Edson] Alvarez stay, then we keep two top players. But it is also possible that one goes, or both."
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"It is important for us that the relationship with the players remains good. This can be done by being transparent and applying good principles. As we get closer to the deadline, the transfer fee, for example, goes up."
Kudus' Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) peaked at €16.2m last season, though it is believed that Ajax will try to squeeze much, much more out of the talented 22-year-old. Arsenal could be forced to pay over the odds to land Kudus if they have to wait for players to depart before they can sanction a move.
