Everton's hopes of snapping up young Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus have hit an obstacle - after the Amsterdam club's new manager expressed his desire to keep the playmaker.
The Blues have been expected to sign the 22-year-old Ghana international on loan with an option to make it a permanent move. But Alfred Schreuder, who replaced Erik ten Hag following his move to Manchester United, claims to no nothing about it.
Speaking to Voetbal International, the Ajax boss said: “I haven’t heard anything. I think he should not leave. You can see that he is important. We need a lot of good players.”
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Kudus was included in the Ajax squad for their 1-0 away win at Sparta Rotterdam on Saturday, unlike teammate Antony, who was left out, amid reports he could follow Ten Hag to United.
Kudus has fallen behind academy graduate Kenneth Taylor in the pecking order and is frustrated at a lack of game time, having only played 23 minutes of the season so far. Schreuder added: “We spoke with him three times, because he also thinks he should play.
“Of course, I see that he is disappointed now and then. It’s about whether you can control that emotion for the team. He handles that well.”
Everton are in urgent need of attacking reinforcements as Frank Lampard looks to rejuvenate his squad and get the club upwardly mobile after a period of struggle that almost saw them relegated from the Premier League last season.
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