Liverpool transfers: Mohammed Kudus West Ham release clause REVEALED

Liverpool could be set for a transfer shakeup this summer with a number of their top stars approaching the last 12 months of their contracts. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah all have deals which expire in 2025 and if no agreement is reached then the Reds could well listen to offers for all three instead of allowing them to leave for nothing next summer.

Real Madrid have been mentioned as a potential destination for Alexander-Arnold while Van Dijk is reportedly attracting interest from the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund both linked. 

Salah, meanwhile, was the subject of a mammoth bid from Al-Ittihad last summer, which was successfully fended off by Liverpool. 

However, the Saudi Pro League side could well be back in an attempt to make the Egyptian the face of their championship, meaning new sporting director Richard Hughes will have a big decision to make. 

Should the new Anfield hierarchy decide to cash in on Salah then a replacement forward will have to be signed. 

Liverpool must pay £85 million for Kudus

One of the names in the frame for a move to Liverpool is the West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus. A few weeks back it was revealed by Spanish outlet Fichajes that Liverpool had the Ghana international on their radar as plans for a post-Jurgen Klopp future took shape.

Respected transfer journalist David Ornstein then disclosed that there was a release clause in Kudus’s Hammers deal, although no fee was mentioned.

However, a new report from Claret & Hugh now reveals that any interested parties will have to pay £85 million in order to release Kudus from his West Ham contract. 

The outlet also reports that the release clause was vital in getting a deal for the forward over the line last summer as he insisted on it being inserted, and also revealing that it is a similar fee that West Ham would require for Lucas Paqueta.

There are undisclosed conditions around the clause, according to the report, with it believed to only become active for a narrow portion of the transfer window. 

Kudus impresses in first PL season

Kudus moved to the Hammers last summer from Ajax for around £38 million and has had a decent first campaign in England amid difficult circumstances at the London Stadium. 

He has hit 17 goals in all competitions, delivering six assists, with seven of those goals coming in 31 Premier League matches. One of his strikes has been described as a wonder goal, a sublime individual effort against Freiburg in the Europa League round of 16.

The Ghanaian earned a formidable reputation in Amsterdam, scoring 27 goals in 87 matches for Ajax before his surprise move to West Ham. 

He is a versatile left-footer, who can play in numerous positions in attack. Like Salah, he has been stationed mostly on the right wing but has also excelled in attacking midfield and at centre forward. 

West Ham have contracted Kudus until 2028, with an option for a further year. 

Ex-Red backs Kudus to replace Salah

Former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique believes Kudus would make a good replacement should the club decide to sell Salah. 

"Mohammed Kudus is someone that I think could be a replacement for Salah,” he told Grosvenor Sports last month. 

"Even last summer, I would have said that, and now, of course, he is playing really well for West Ham.”