Arsenal are reportedly preparing a January swoop for West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus as Mikel Arteta looks to reignite his side’s attacking prowess. With goals from open play proving elusive, the Gunners see the Ghanaian international as a solution to their recent struggles in front of goal.

However, securing Kudus won’t come cheap. The 24-year-old has an £85 million release clause in his contract, set to activate in the summer, meaning Arsenal would need to offer a similar amount to bring him to the Emirates mid-season. This financial hurdle may force the club to offload players to raise the required funds.

Kudus, who has scored 10 goals in 38 Premier League starts, has caught the attention of other top clubs, including Liverpool and Newcastle United. But Arsenal’s urgency to close the six-point gap behind league leaders Liverpool, who hold a game in hand, has placed the versatile forward at the top of their wishlist.

West Ham are reportedly open to selling Kudus for the right price in January, with plans to reinvest the funds in their summer transfer strategy. For Arsenal, the pursuit of Kudus could signal the departure of several fringe players, as the club seeks to strike the right financial balance for this high-profile transfer.