Dean Ashton backs Jarrod Bowen over £120m-rated England international despite West Ham relegation

Former West Ham striker Dean Ashton has made a bold comparison between Jarrod Bowen and Elliot Anderson.

Anderson was one of the best midfielders in the Premier League this season and is now wanted by Manchester City.

The 24-year-old has also earned a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England starting XI ahead of the World Cup this summer.

Anderson’s stock is considered to be significantly higher than Bowen’s, but Ashton completely disagrees.

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He's good – but is he THAT good?

Dean Ashton would pick Jarrod Bowen over Elliot Anderson every time

The winger has shown no signs of wanting to leave, but he is too good to be playing in the Championship next season.

At 29 years old, this may also be Bowen’s last opportunity to move to a Champions League club before he retires.

He's done nothing!

Nottingham Forest value Anderson at around £120 million, but Ashton would rather have Bowen in his team.

“[Bowen’s] output in the last three seasons has been right up there with the best in the division,” Ashton explained on talkSPORT.

“I’m buying Jarrod Bowen over Elliot Anderson any day of the week for what he will offer you, in terms of output.

“Okay, [Anderson] wins the ball back. He’s terrific on the ball. He can dictate the tempo and gets around the pitch brilliantly.

“But the hardest thing in football is to create and score goals, and Jarrod Bowen does it consistently, and he’s ready-made right now.

“You don’t know if Elliot Anderson is going to step forward into that pressurised situation.”

Given that Anderson plays as a central midfielder, the comparison between him and Bowen was unusual.

Ashton’s comments suggest he would be surprised if West Ham can keep their star player this summer.

However, if Bowen does continue at the London Stadium, the Hammers could have one foot back in the Premier League.