Jarrod Bowen exit: Everything West Ham fans need to know about potential biggest deal of the summer
Jarrod Bowen has been one of West Ham’s best players over the last few seasons, and he will forever go down in Hammers history.
Bowen scored the winning goal as the Irons clinched the UEFA Conference League trophy back in 2023.
Since then, the Englishman has become West Ham’s captain, given the honour following Kurt Zouma’s exit in 2024.
However, claims about Bowen’s West Ham leadership have put his captaincy into question.
Nonetheless, that does not take away from what he has done on the pitch, and with relegation on the cards this season, there will be fears his time could be coming to an end.
How likely is Jarrod Bowen to leave West Ham if they are relegated?
West Ham fans will all agree that Bowen is too good to be left playing in the Championship if the Hammers’ worst fear comes true.
Right now, the E20 club is sitting in the relegation zone, and the signs are pointing towards that possibility.
In that case, Bowen is likely to leave West Ham, with some of his prime years still ahead of him.
Additionally, getting into the England squad while playing in the Championship is a difficult feat and one that is not often achieved. This would also play into his mind.
West Ham also have relegation clauses inserted to their players’ contracts, which would see Bowen’s wages drop too.
If Bowen were to leave West Ham, it would be the Hammers’ biggest deal of the summer, and it would be a monumental task to replace his influence.
However, if Nuno can keep West Ham up, there is a good chance of Bowen sticking around next season.
Bowen has admitted he wants to stay at West Ham in the long term, most recently stating via West Ham’s YouTube channel that he would love to hit 500 appearances for the club.
So if Bowen’s words are to be believed, staying in the Premier League could be the key to keeping him.
Who could Bowen join if he leaves, and how much could West Ham get?
Aston Villa have been touted as a destination for Bowen, but there have been no concrete links for the winger. Either way, that would be a good move for the player.
The Englishman is certainly good enough to feature for a side playing in Europe, but most of the usual suspects in the Premier League may be put off by his age.
At 29 years old, Bowen is not exactly in the youth of his career, and the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, and others like to target players within the 18 to 25 year old age bracket.
Newcastle could suit both parties, as the Geordies’ signing of Anthony Elanga has not quite worked out so far, and they could potentially offer him European football.
Additionally, depending on where they finish, Everton could be another destination, as they may need to replace winger Dwight McNeil.
When it comes to a potential price, West Ham holds all the cards. The Hammers skipper is contracted until 2030, and the East London club could seek more than expected.
According to Transfermarkt, Bowen’s market value is around £30million, but a fee nearer £40m may be closer to his true worth, with £50m not off the table.
Players such as Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford, who play similar positions and are of similar age, have been touted at near the £25 million mark, but Bowen has shown much more consistency than that pair.