West Ham 'interested' in signing player Chelsea almost signed as Mohammed Kudus replacement

West Ham are being linked with a player Chelsea came close to signing in recent weeks. The Hammers are on a mission to improve their squad ahead of next season after a hugely disappointing campaign of last.

Graham Potter will have a vital first couple of months of the season after failing to turn things around after taking over from Julen Lopetegui last season. Potter will be given money to spend this summer, but he knows he must recruit efficiently to make sure he does not follow Lopetegui’s lead in getting sacked in the winter.

West Ham’s mission to improve could be challenged by a big departure, with Mohammed Kudus being linked with a move away from the club. Kudus struggled in the season just gone, but he is still reportedly being eyed by a number of clubs, and he is likely to pursue a move if interest arrives, given he is an ambitious player at a club that just finished deep in the bottom half.

But if Kudus does go, it will only improve Potter’s war chest, and there is already talk that the Hammers might go after a Premier League winger to fill the void. According to ESPN, West Ham are interested in a deal for Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho.

It’s claimed the Iron are keen on a deal for Sancho but that the player would need to drop his wage significantly, something he was not willing to do with Chelsea. Chelsea had the option to sign Sancho for £25million at the end of his loan move, and they seemed to be willing to do the deal on certain conditions, but they could not strike a deal with the player and he returned to Old Trafford.

United don’t want to keep Sancho, who fell out with previous boss Erik ten Hag, and it’s likely the winger will be heading for pastures new this summer. West Ham could be that pasture, and the East London side can likely pull off the transfer fee, but the wages could be a sticking point.

Sancho showed flashes of quality at Chelsea, but his stock is surely not high enough to hold out for huge wages.

What Maresca said about Sancho

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said he was open to keeping Sancho before the discussion took place. He said: “We are going to sit with the club and decide what happens for next year.”

Speaking on Sancho’s form during the season, the Chelsea boss said: “For me he’s doing very well. I am quite surprised with Jadon, because I knew Jadon already [from seeing him at his previous clubs] and I know what I expected from him, but in terms of being consistent, he’s doing very well.

“Apart from a short part of the season when he had some problems, when he was out ill, then for the rest he has been very good. I expected him to do well, but for all the players doing well for a long period is not easy, and he has been doing well for a long period already. He’s doing well, now he just needs to continue going in that way.”

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