If there is one club the West Ham United faithful would hate to see Jarrod Bowen leave the London Stadium for – apart from Tottenham Hotspur of course – it is probably Chelsea.
Yet, as a confidante of David Sullivan reveals that Bowen is ‘expected to leave West Ham’ following relegation, the prospect of losing a key forward to a London rival for the second summer in a row is starting to feel like a realistic – and extremely painful – possibility.
If Mohammed Kudus ruined his Hammers legacy en route to Spurs in July 2025, that would pale in comparison to the sight of Jarrod Bowen starting next season in the deep blue of Chelsea.
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According to The Independent, Chelsea are mulling over the idea of taking Bowen to Stamford Bridge. Or, at least, mulling over the idea of trying to take Bowen to Stamford Bridge.
The prospect of following in the footsteps of Joe Cole and Frank Lampard is likely to be something which has the skipper delving, debating in the deepest recesses of his mind. Can a man who almost literally married the club really risk his own legacy, even if the more forgiving members of the West Ham fanbase may understand the need to keep playing Premier League football in the year of his 30th birthday?
West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen faces Chelsea dilemma
Ahead of Bayer Leverkusen’s Europa League triumph over West Ham in 2024, new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso praised Bowen for his ‘energy’, his goalscoring qualities, and his threat ‘in transition’.
Of all the clubs to be linked at this early stage of the summer, Chelsea also feel like the one who would benefit most from his presence. The Independent report that Bowen’s experience is viewed as a major plus point at a club short of top-flight nous.
Another key factor revolves around Chelsea’s dearth of convincing options in Bowen’s favourite position.
When The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg spoke about interest from Old Trafford, he indicated that Man United may view Bowen as a left-wing option due to their existing options on the right; Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo, not to mention the extremely highly-rated Shea Lacey.
It is no secret that Tottenham are long-time admirers of Bowen – a sentence which is enough alone to leave an extremely sour taste in Hammers mouths – but the aforementioned Kudus had that position sewn up before his season-ending injury.
Newcastle still have hope that Anthony Elanga will come good, while Anthony Gordon’s shock £70 million move to Barcelona weakening the left-hand side of their attack rather than the right.
And according to the uber-reliable David Ornstein, Liverpool are now stepping up their interest in RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande. While the idea of Bowen replacing Mo Salah is not a new one, would Liverpool really sign a 29-year-old on a long-term deal?
Diomande would cost a lot more – a fee of £100 million has been mentioned – but he is a decade Bowen’s junior and offers the kind of long-term potential they would not find at West Ham.
Chelsea value Bowen’s Premier League experience
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When you consider that Chelsea’s starting right-winger for much of last season was the maligned, ever-frustrating Pedro Neto, unfortunately, the door to Stamford Bridge begins to feel rather more open than – say – Old Trafford, Anfield or the Emirates.
Especially after a serious hamstring injury suffered by Estevao, raising considerable fears about a Michael Owen-esque decline in explosiveness.
‘Chelsea are weighing up a move for Jarrod Bowen, with West Ham United under pressure to sell their star after relegation,’ Miguel Delaney wrote in The Independent last weekend.
‘The club have been considering the 29-year-old for some time, especially due to an awareness that they could do with more leadership in the dressing room.’
Bowen would provide that, even if his role as West Ham captain has come under question on a fairly regular basis. In addition to that ‘leadership’ and his vast Premier League experience, Bowen would also give Chelsea something else they – in contrast to many top-flight rivals – are currently lacking; A consistent goal threat on the right-hand side.
Of course, there is also the possibility that Bowen stays, leads West Ham back to the Premier League, and captains them to a victory at Stamford Bridge in 2027…
If Danny and, erm, Danni have their way, the latter scenario will become the real-life scenario.
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