Why Everton failed to seal Mohammed Kudus transfer despite deal agreed in 2022

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Everton’s recent turmoil has set them back massively, as a club that once had grand ambitions of upsetting the traditional top six.

Under Ronald Koeman, after he had led them into Europe after his first season, it seemed like they genuinely had the formula to achieve such a goal. That was, until their overspending and underperformance caught up with them.

Now massively hampered after years of financial misconduct, they are forced to scamper about in the market for bargains; a stark change from the huge fees previously thrown around to tempt stars to Goodison Park.

However, they have come close to still snagging some elite-level talent despite these restrictions, with Mohammed Kudus one such name

Did Mohammed Kudus nearly sign for Everton?

In fact, Fabrizio Romano would even take to X back in 2022 to outline what seemed to be the conclusion of a long-running saga.

Their interest in the Ghana international had been detailed throughout the summer, with Frank Lampard likely viewing the Ajax ace as his replacement for the departed Richarlison.

However, the 23-year-old saw his transfer blocked due to transfer movements elsewhere, with Manchester United actually hampering their deal.

Having started the season poorly, the Red Devils would enter the market in a panicked state, spending a ludicrous £86m to bring Antony to Old Trafford.

Unwilling to lose both of their star wingers in the same window, the Amsterdam outfit then denied Kudus’ move until the following summer, when West Ham United parted with £38m to finally hand him that dream move to England.

How good is Mohammed Kudus?

Since joining the Hammers, although it took a small while to break into David Moyes’ side, he has since become a hugely influential figure at the London Stadium.

However, that did not come as a surprise to those who had followed him, given the year prior he had scored 18 and assisted seven across all competitions in his final year with Ajax, earning the label of a ‘superstar’ that journalist Okuraku Ampofo bestowed upon him.

So, to see him now having scored two and assisted one in his last four Premier League appearances is finally giving a glimpse of the talent Everton thought they had captured back in 2022.

In fact, his tally of nine goals across all competitions this campaign is actually higher than any of Sean Dyche’s men, dwarfing Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucoure’s top-scoring tally of four strikes.

Whilst failing to sign Eden Hazard in 2012 was a true hammer blow, alongside Erling Haaland when delving even further back, Kudus marks the outstanding recent failure that is now tormenting them more than ever.