West Ham United ‘desperate’ to avoid Declan Rice situation with Jarrod Bowen
West Ham are desperate to tie Jarrod Bowen down to a new long-term contract before the January transfer window, according to Sean Whetstone.
The editor of the 6foot2 reported on Twitter [3 October] that United are eager to avoid the same situation that saw them forced to cash in on Declan Rice to Arsenal in the summer.
England international Bowen, who has been touted as a possible target for Liverpool [Paul Brown], is under contract at the London Stadium until June 2025.
Whetstone posted via his West Ham Football account on Twitter: “West Ham are desperate to get a new long-term deal over the line for Jarrod Bowen before the January transfer window opens, hoping they don’t have a repeat of the Declan Rice situation where they were forced to sell their star player over the summer, after failing to agree new terms.”
Familiar scenario
Bowen may still have 20 months to run on his current deal, but West Ham could be forced to sell one of their prized assets at the end of the campaign if fresh terms cannot be agreed.
That is because the club will not want to let him leave for free the following summer, at which point numerous heavyweight clubs will no doubt be waiting to pounce.
Bowen seems settled in East London and it is fair to say he is loving his football right now, having scored five goals and assisted another in seven Premier League outings this campaign.
The former Hull City winger has already written his name in West Ham folklore with his late winner in June’s Europa Conference League final triumph over Fiorentina.
But being a fan favourite and enjoying your football at a club, just like Rice, is not always enough.
Until Bowen eventually puts pen to paper at the London Stadium, hopefully in the coming weeks, supporters will continue to fear the worst.
In other West Ham news, Bowen is said to be ready to take a “big leap” in his career.