This season has to be brought into account because his performances in a much more attacking role as a 9.5 is how he has gained traction as a potential top level club target. As an 8, he hasn't really played or done well enough (to me) to be a target at that same level, because, while yes he was injured for large parts of the previous season, he didn't play much even before the ribs. Roughly 500 minutes over 20 games is nothing (excluding Jong minutes.) Even then, after his ribs in the middle of the season, he was deployed more as a 10 if memory serves rather than an 8. I reiterate my point that I've made not just here but in other threads that he has the skillset to play in several different positions, but its been made clear to me his most productive games are those where he is deployed in an attacking position.
For your second paragraph, ETH's main 8 last season, Gravenberch, has made a lot of noise about being unhappy at Bayern, and assuming both are gettable + require roughly the same financial package, I would bet my house on us picking up Gravenberch before we target Kudus for the same role.