Everton were 'well placed' to sign Mohammed Kudus - David Moyes ally
Everton could have signed Mohammed Kudus before he went to Ajax but failed to get a deal done.
That is according to former senior Everton scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
Kudus excelled for the Hammers and is expected to prove to be a superb signing for the Lilywhites, despite an injury-hit first campaign.
In many ways, he is exactly the type of player that Everton could have used on their wings, bringing pace, flair and technical quality.
The Toffees look set to lose Iliman Ndiaye to Al Hilal this summer amid ongoing talks and will be forced to look elsewhere.
Mohammed Kudus could have been an Everton player
Kudus first began to catch the eye at the Right to Dream academy in Ghana, before he was signed by FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark.
The then-18-year-old joined Ajax in 2020 for a fee in the region of £8m, and it was there that he began to thrive.
The 2022-23 season saw Kudus net 18 goals and provide six assists across all competitions, encouraging West Ham to spend £38m to sign him. Everton could have had an in long before that, however.
"I've watched Kudus ever since he was an FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark, that's the first time I saw him," long-time Moyes ally King told Football Insider. "It's funnily enough because we had a look at him at Everton and it was David Moyes who signed him at West Ham.
"He was definitely on the radar at Everton when I was there. He's just arrived from Ghana from the Right to Dream Academy. They've got a tie-up with FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark because the local owns Nordsjaelland.
"I think he's one of the main money men behind the Right to Dream school that they had in Ghana. I like Kudus from when he was very young. He's quick, very direct.
"He did well in the Danish Premier League. I thought he should have made the move to the Premier League at that time, but then it was a good step for him again.
"I bet it's funny, Moyes, thinking about that he could have probably come to Everton. Then he ended up paying £38m for him, which was a good bit of business by Ajax."
Kudus set for key Tottenham season
Kudus got off to a brilliant start last season for Tottenham and had a goal and four assists in the Premier League by the start of October.
As the Lilywhites began to struggle, so did he, and a significant hamstring injury suffered in January ended his first campaign.
The winger is said to now be closing in on a return to full fitness after suffering a setback in April, ahead of what will be a key season for him.
"Kudus is very close. I think when we come back to London he will be available to start working with us," Roberto De Zerbi confirmed last week.