Ajax sweating over fitness of Chelsea and Manchester United target amid talks of £40m bid

Dutch side Ajax have confirmed midfielder Mohammed Kudus missed their pre-season game against SpVgg Unterhaching due to a knock and is now a doubt for their weekend game against FC Augsburg.

The 22-year-old announced his return to the club with a brace and an assist against Shakhtar Donetsk before dominating in the second game against Anderlecht. The Ghanaian however has since not trained with reports in Holland suggesting it might be down to the sustained interest from Premier League giants Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.

However, the club sources say he missed the game against SpVgg Unterhaching due to a minor knock and is under the care of the club's medical team as they prepare for the upcoming new Dutch league.

The Ghanaian, blessed with great technique and enviable close control ticks all the boxes for the profile of players the Blues are looking at, especially with the departure of Kai Havertz and Mason Mount this summer.

The Ajax star is seen as a man with a growing reputation in European football and came close to signing for Everton last season when Frank Lampard took over the side. This summer Brighton and Hove Albion have been in touch with the player's representatives as well as Manchester United.

Last season, Dutch football legend Marco van Basten said the Ghanaian was better than Manchester United’s Antony as top European clubs knocked on the door for his services after his sterling World Cup campaign where he bagged two goals for the Black Stars of Ghana.

LondonWorld sources say Kudus is determined to move to the Premier League having joined Ajax in 2020, scoring 16 goals in 63 appearances for the Dutch club.

Chelsea have shipped out almost 20 players this summer if you count those who have left out on loan and permanently with the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech all still looking to leave before the summer transfer window closes.

The mass exodus has created a gap that has to be filled with Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise and Mohammed Kudus high on the list of players likely to come into west London.

Kudus began his football career at the age of 10 at Ghanaian club Right to Dream before moving to Danish club Nordsjaelland where he excelled before securing the move to Ajax where he has been in the last three years.