Mohammed Kudus Dropped From West Ham's Starting Lineup to Face Ipswich

Mohammed Kudus Dropped From West Ham's Starting Lineup to Face Ipswich

  • Mohammed Kudus was surprisingly left out of West Ham’s starting XI for the final game of the season against Ipswich
  • Graham Potter reverted to his preferred 3-5-2 formation, pairing Jarrod Bowen with Niclas Füllkrug up front
  • Despite the snub, transfer rumours persist, with Liverpool and Arsenal reportedly keeping tabs on the Ghanaian midfielder

Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus has been omitted from West Ham’s starting XI for Sunday’s season finale against Ipswich Town.

Eager to finish on a high, Ipswich host the Hammers at Portman Road for the last Premier League fixture of the campaign.

Mohammed Kudus dropped from West Ham's squad to face Ipswich
Mohammed Kudus dropped from West Ham's squad to face Ipswich
Source: Getty Images

The Tractor Boys’ struggles continued with a loss at Leicester City, while West Ham were beaten by Nottingham Forest in their previous outing.

When Graham Potter announced his lineup, Kudus was conspicuously absent as German forward Niclas Füllkrug took his spot up front.

Potter opted for his preferred 3-5-2 formation for the season finale, deploying Jarrod Bowen alongside Füllkrug up front, leaving Kudus on the bench.

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Fans react to Kudus' benching

The Ghana international's omission has fueled speculation among fans that the Black Stars playmaker could be on his way out of the club.

@JayWHU wrote:

"Kudus being dropped just means that he’s definitely off in the summer, but we knew that."

@Daniel_XGen said:

"Last game. No Kudus. He's a goner."

@N97JC added:

"Mohammed Kudus final game may be off the bench."

@kudusismo commented:

"Today Kudus goes to the bench against Ipswich Town, in what could be his last game for West Ham."

Kudus on Liverpool, Arsenal radar

Kudus arrived from Ajax in August 2023 for a fee of £38 million plus add-ons and impressed in his first season.

Despite his promising debut campaign, Kudus has struggled to replicate that form this season, netting just four goals and supplying four assists in 34 appearances.

That hasn’t deterred suitors—Liverpool and Arsenal remain keen on Kudus, with the Reds reportedly naming him among their summer targets.

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Meanwhile, former Premier League scout Mick Brown believes Kudus' inconsistent performances have raised concerns among top clubs about triggering his £80 million release clause.

“He scored his first goal of the year against Brighton, but four goals all season isn’t enough for a player of his calibre,” Brown told Football Insider.
“He has talent, no doubt, but he’s not doing enough consistently to justify such a huge fee.”
“If you're going to replace someone in the starting XI, you need an upgrade. Based on his current form, Kudus doesn’t guarantee that,” he noted.

Al-Nassr eye Kudus

Meanwhile, Al Nassr, having attempted to sign Kudus in January, are preparing a fresh bid this summer, per Ghanaweb.

They believe West Ham might accept less than the £120 million release clause that applies exclusively to Saudi clubs between July 1 and 10—separate from the £85 million clause set for Premier League suitors.

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Bowen hails Mohammed Kudus

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Jarrod Bowen hailed Kudus for his relentless pressing and off-the-ball work, which he believes played a pivotal role in West Ham’s landmark victory over Manchester United.

Bowen, visibly thrilled after the match, emphasised Kudus’ immense contribution that often goes unnoticed in the final stats.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Isaac Darko avatar

Isaac Darko (Sports Editor) Isaac Darko is a Sports Editor at Yen, boasting over 10 years of experience in the media industry. He has produced award-winning TV shows such as "Football 360" and "Sports XTRA" on ViaSat 1/Kwese TV. Isaac began his career as an Assistant Producer at TV3 Ghana Limited (Media General) and also contributed as a Writer and Weekend Editor for Pulse Ghana. He earned his bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (now University of Media, Arts and Communication). Email: isaac.darko@sportsbrief.com.

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