Arsenal step up interest to sign £80 million-rated Premier League star in January: Reports

Arsenal have allegedly stepped up their interest in luring Mohammed Kudus away from West Ham United in the winter transfer window.

Kudus, 24, has established himself as a vital starter for the Hammers since arriving from Ajax in a potential £38 million deal in the summer of 2023. He has mostly featured for his club in a wide role while also playing in the number 10 role.

Now, according to The Boot Room, West Ham have not ruled out the possibility of selling their left-footed attacker to raise funds in the upcoming transfer window. As a result, the Gunners have renewed their interest in the Ghanaian star.

Arsenal, who were reportedly linked with Kudus last year, are currently on the hunt for quality offensive reinforcements. They are said to be keen to rope in both a number nine option and a versatile winger to aid their ongoing title push.

Kudus, who has an exit clause of £80 million, has contributed 16 goals and eight assists in 57 games across competitions for West Ham.

Martin Odegaard opines on latest Arsenal draw

Earlier this Sunday (December 8), Arsenal recorded their fifth league draw of the season. The Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw at Fulham with William Saliba's 52nd-minute goal cancelling out Raul Jimenez's 11th-minute opener.

After the end of the encounter at Craven Cottage, Gunners captain Martin Odegaard offered his honest thoughts on his team's recent performance. He told reporters (h/t arsenal.com):

"We didn't score enough to win. We dominated the whole game, they didn't create anything, apart from the goal, we had a few big moments there, especially with the disallowed goal at the end. We did a lot, but I think we have to be a bit more aggressive going into the box and attacking the box. We created a few bigger chances there, but I think that it's a game we should win."

Opening up on his dressing room's current mood, Odegaard added:

"So we are disappointed, obviously we wanted to win. We have to move on and that's it. The mood, obviously now, is disappointed because we didn't win, but we have to move on to the next, they come so quickly now. There's no time to be too disappointed, we have to move on and make sure we win the next one and that's it."

Arsenal are third behind Liverpool and Chelsea in the 2024-25 Premier League table with 29 points from 15 games. They will face relegation-threatened Everton in their next league tie at Emirates Stadium on Saturday (December 14).