The Blues considered Kudus as a potential replacement for Mason Mount, who had left, and engaged in negotiations with him. However, they didn’t follow through due to their intense pursuit of Moises Caicedo in the final days of the transfer window.

 

Chelsea expended significant effort to secure Caicedo, their top priority signing, and later turned their attention to Romeo Lavia, while Kudus ultimately joined their London rivals, West Ham. This shift in focus could be partly attributed to Liverpool’s involvement.

 

Kudus’ agent provided insight into the situation, saying, “We reached an agreement with Chelsea, we agreed the contract with Chelsea, but the deal was not done. He talked with the coach, but in the end, it didn’t happen because Chelsea made a ridiculous offer to Ajax. The truth is that they were completely focused on the transfer of (Moises) Caicedo, which took up all their energy.”

The Blues prioritized Caicedo as their first-choice signing, and missing out on him would have been a significant setback. The pursuit of Caicedo, who had been on Chelsea’s radar since the previous January, became the primary focus, culminating in his record-breaking transfer in the summer.

 

In essence, Chelsea’s level of interest in Kudus wasn’t strong enough to prompt them to make a compelling offer. Chelsea is known for being willing to spend on top talents, as seen with the Caicedo deal, but Kudus wasn’t as high on their priority list.

 

Kudus’ decision to join West Ham has proven wise as it has provided him with significant playing time. Chelsea already has midfield options in Enzo Fernandez and Carney Chukwuemeka, making it reasonable that they didn’t pursue Kudus further. Both Fernandez and Chukwuemeka can fill the role of an attacking midfielder, addressing the club’s needs.