Mohammed Kudus set surprising new target amid £85m January transfer links

Julen Lopetegui says doubling down on defensive work is the key to unlocking Mohammed Kudus’ best form.

West Ham winger Kudus scored his first goal since mid-October against Brighton last weekend having served a five-game suspension for misconduct following a red card away to Tottenham.

Despite that absence the Ghanaian travels to Southampton this afternoon having completed more successful dribbles (42) than any other player in the top flight - and there has been fresh talk of a potential transfer to a Champions League side with Arsenal and Manchester City among those linked in recent weeks.

He has offered West Ham a much-needed attacking outlet during a difficult start to the season that immediately put pressure on Lopetegui. Yet the head coach is calling on Kudus, who would cost £85million, to place an even greater emphasis on his off the ball work.

“I think any attacking player is much better if his focus is on his defensive work,” Lopetegui said. “It always happens, when you are focused on your defensive work, normally your attacking performance is going to be better because football is about being focused always and a collective game.

“I think he was doing that but it was a pity he was out for five matches and it’s not easy to recover the rhythm in the Premier League.

“We are happy with him but we are happy because I think this is the only way and he has to understand football is a collective game despite each player having his strengths and his way to understand football.

"He is doing well and he is helping the team. When you do that, all of the other players are going to show that they are better. This is the only way I understand football, it is a collective game and on each one of them they have to put their best for the team.”

Lucas Paqueta is suspended for the visit to St Mary’s, which will place added pressure on Carlos Soler.

The Spanish midfielder has grown in stature over the past month and will be back in the starting XI after serving a one-game ban against Brighton.

And Lopetegui added: “At the start he had difficulties with the adaptations of the Premier League, as have a lot of players. Carlos has improved step by step and now I think he’s ready to help us for the rest of the season.”