Manchester United are ramping up the gas on their pursuit of Ajax forward Mohammed Kudus, who has been linked with a multitude of Europe's top clubs since his exploits at the 2022 World Cup with Ghana.

According to 90min, Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag is 'exploring ways' to forge a transfer for the dynamic forward, who would be a welcome addition to an ambitious outfit thriving as one of the most in-form teams in Europe right now - United have won nine of their past ten matches.

This comes in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from the club in November, with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford now the only recognised central striking options at Old Trafford.

Despite the evident interest in the Ghanaian, the Eredivisie giants are reportedly only willing to part with their prolific prospect for a fee of £40m.

Kudus has been making steady increments across the early period of his professional career, and he has now become a player on the tip of numerous tongues across Europe as queries are made over his signature.

This season alone, the 22-year-old has scored ten goals and provided two assists from 21 appearances, despite only starting on ten occasions.

It's his displays in the Champions League which have really caught the eye; with four goals and two assists from six group games, scoring against Liverpool, Rangers and Napoli, and his pedigree on the continental stage is already being established.

As per Sofascore, his average rating in the competition this term is an impressive 7.22, with his direct contributions complemented by some remarkable metrics - despite his four-goal haul, Kudus has only averaged 1.3 shots per match, demonstrating his clinical nature.

His sharpshooting skills, agile nature and pace, along with his ability to flourish even when dropping in and out of the starting XI, means that he could become United's next Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who cemented cult status at the Theatre of Dreams following his exploits with the club in the 1990s and 2000s amid a reputation as an impact substitute.

Scoring 126 goals and supplying 50 assists across 366 appearances for the Red Devils, the Norwegian marksman was instrumental in the collection of multiple major titles, notably having a defining impact on the 1999 Champions League triumph, scoring the last-gasp winner against Bayern Munich in the final.

While Kudus certainly possesses the ability to earn his trade as the focal point of United's attack as their starting talisman, he boasts a wealth of quality not too dissimilar to Solskjaer's, and it is a partnership that Ten Hag must look to emulate.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig once lauded the 21-cap Ghana phenomenon as "electric", and that lightning burst of talent will need to be ensnared and placed into the Old Trafford fold in the coming weeks if the Red Devils are to take an advantage and continue to flourish at the forefront of the Premier League.