West Ham could be prepared to cash in on captain Jarrod Bowen this summer, according to MailOnline.
The 29-year-old is West Ham’s poster boy, having registered 20+ contributions for five consecutive seasons and scoring the winner in the 2023 Conference League final.
After the Hammers’ triumph in Europe, the winger signed a fresh seven-year contract, while he has previously admitted that he feels like he owes the club for giving him his chance in the Premier League when they signed him from Hull City in 2020.
On top of that, Bowen is married to Danny Dyer’s daughter, Dani, adding to the growing West Ham influence in his life.
Therefore, it’s generally felt amongst the Hammers faithful that for as long as the club remains in the Premier League, Bowen will remain at West Ham.
But with relegation on the cards over the next couple of weeks, question marks have never been bigger over his London Stadium future.
West Ham’s summer upheaval
West Ham announced record annual losses of £104m earlier this year and revealed that player sales are inevitable this summer to balance the books, regardless of what league they’re competing in.
However, given Bowen’s loyalty to the club, there have not been many fears that the skipper will be on of the players being put up for sale. Indeed, former Hammer Glen Johnson claimed last week that he felt Bowen might opt to stay in east London even if West Ham are relegated.
But, according to Mail Online, Bowen may ‘have clearance to leave even if they avoid the drop’ due to the club’s ongoing financial issues, as well as recent boardroom upheaval, which saw Karren Brady leave the club last month after 16 years as co-chair.
If West Ham stay up, there will likely be uproar if the club still opts to listen to offers for Bowen. Fans will accept his exit if the West Ham relegated, but will find it hard to accept should he be sold to a rival in the same division.
The likes of Crysencio Summerville, Mateus Fernandes, Tomas Soucek and Taty Castellanos are also rumoured to be heading towards the exit door this summer.
Bowen’s bargain asking price
Bowen is West Ham’s highest-paid player with a £150k-a-week contract, which still has four years left to run.
If West Ham remain in the Premier League, that kind of contract will ensure Bowen’s value is high.
However, MailOnline’s report claims interested clubs already believe a bid in the region of £60m might be enough to tempt West Ham into selling, and even less if they’re relegated.
Of course, Bowen’s value to the club will be a lot higher than that given his status in claret and blue. However, the need to sell players means they could have their hands tied. Especially if they’re unable to attract large bids for other first-team stars.
Liverpool, Newcastle and David Moyes’ Everton are all named as interested clubs. Moyes signed Bowen for West Ham six-and-a-half years ago and will no doubt love the opportunity to be reunited with the player who helped him win the first piece of major silverware of his managerial career.
But all of those clubs will have something of a job on their hands in convincing Bowen to leave West Ham. At the age of 29, he probably only has one big move left in him before retirement, but the winger will be well aware that he has the ability to end his career as a West Ham legend.
On top of ending West Ham’s 43-year trophy drought, Bowen is also four goals away from equalling Michail Antonio’s record of 68 Premier League goals for the Hammers. He already leads West Ham’s all-time Premier League assist records with 48.
With 84 goals and 59 assists in all competitions, Bowen is West Ham’s most successful player in decades, and he’s within touching distance of becoming the first player to score 100 goals for West Ham since Tony Cottee in 1987.
He will no doubt be aware of that upcoming milestone and at his age, might be eager to remain in at the club, stay loyal, and eventually leave as an undeniable legend, if he isn’t one already.
