Brighton appears to be on the verge of outpacing Arsenal and Chelsea in securing the signing of Ajax winger Mohammed Kudus.

The 23-year-old Ghanaian talent has swiftly garnered recognition as one of global football's most promising attacking prospects, impressing both at Ajax and on the international stage.

Reportedly turning down a contract extension offer from his current club in April, Arsenal and Chelsea have both been vying to entice Kudus to London.

Yet, according to David Ornstein from The Athletic, it's Brighton that has now taken the lead, having agreed upon a £34.5 million transfer fee to bring him to the Amex Stadium.

Discussions between the player and the club are currently underway, aiming to finalize what could be a standout addition to Roberto De Zerbi's squad, which is set to compete in the Europa League.

Kudus, who is also versatile enough to play as an attacking midfielder or a central striker, impressively netted 18 goals across 42 matches for Ajax in the previous season, including four goals in six Champions League appearances.

Kudus also received praise for his performances at the Qatar World Cup, notably scoring two goals in Ghana's thrilling 3-2 victory over South Korea.

His current manager, Maurice Steijn, recently shared his perspective on Kudus' future, advising the young talent to remain with the team.

Steijn said: "I feel that when Kudus decides to stay for one more year, the real top clubs will then come for him.

"If we win the league and he scores 20 goals, clubs will pay double for him. This is what we are trying to tell him now."

However, the 49-year-old's plea appears to have fallen on deaf ears.