Gravely concerning new claims have been made about West Ham star Jarrod Bowen amid renewed interest from Liverpool.
- Hammers News exclusive
Liverpool being linked with West Ham talisman Jarrod Bowen is nothing new.
Except in the past it has seemed completely improbable whereas now there are several factors, besides the will of fans, making it somewhat logical.
Ex Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp never hid his longstanding admiration for Hammers hero Bowen.
Last season the German admitted Bowen was his favourite player outside of Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah looks increasingly likely to leave Liverpool this summer with his contract up as things stand.
Liverpool back in for West Ham’s Bowen as ‘Salah heir’
It has long been claimed Liverpool want West Ham star Bowen as Salah’s heir.
Bowen signed a new seven-year deal with West Ham until 2030 18 months ago which dampened speculation.
But it was reignited at the weekend with journalist Pete O’Rourke claiming Liverpool are back in the hunt for West Ham’s best player.
PSR is biting the Hammers hard this summer with the club having made it clear they must sell to buy.
Meanwhile Liverpool are flush with cash having spent just £12m in Arne Slot’s first summer.
Rumours have started to circulate that Bowen wants to be playing Champions League football.
West Ham cannot even offer Bowen European football of any kind again next season after a disastrous campaign where they are fighting to avoid being the worst team in the Premier League outside the relegation zone.
That could damage his England chances under new boss Thomas Tuchel given the fierce competition in his positions.
The Hammers’ top goalscorer cut a frustrated figure after scoring in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday.
Bowen was seen cupping his ears to West Ham fans after they had booed their underperforming team off at half-time.
Then a deeply worrying claim was added to the mix overnight.
West Ham owners respond to shock Bowen bombshell
Now West Ham’s owners have responded to the shock Bowen bombshell amid the new Liverpool threat.
With Liverpool reportedly back in for Bowen and West Ham’s desperation for cash due to PSR, the last thing fans wanted to hear is that majority owner David Sullivan is now willing to sell.
Especially as the £105m deal with Arsenal for Declan Rice proved every player has their price at West Ham.
Premier League commentator Ian Darke has told West Ham Zone he believes the Hammers board will accept an offer of £75m for Bowen amid interest from Liverpool.
Darke believes it could be a necessary evil given Bowen’s England ambitions and West Ham’s desperation for money to rebuild the squad.
The commentator claimed ‘offers could arrive’ and that West Ham would ‘have to consider it’.
Owners set record straight on Bowen amid new Liverpool threat
Bowen’s importance to West Ham goes beyond money.
He is well on his way to being a Hammers legend and the club’s leading Premier League goalscorer of all-time with the 100 club in his sights in the coming years.
But Darke has warned ‘never say never’.
Hammers News has reached out to the most senior contact at the London Stadium.
The response from the spokesman for West Ham’s owners was emphatic.
“It’s true we have to sell to buy due to PSR, like many other clubs,” the spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.
“Let me make this perfectly clear.
“Jarrod is on a long contract and he is not for sale.”
That will come as blessed relief to West Ham fans and will undoubtedly frustrate Slot and co at Liverpool.
The difference between the Rice and Bowen situations are that the former’s contract was running down and he had rejected the biggest deal in West Ham history – which would have guaranteed him earnings of more than £85m over eight years.
Bowen pledged he wanted to retire at West Ham when he signed his new deal in October 2023.
Bowen and partner Dani Dyer – who he is set to marry this summer – set down roots for the future by buying a £3m Essex pad near West Ham’s training ground last year.
Back in December, amid links to Liverpool, Dyer said she would move if she had to for ‘Jarrod Bowen reasons’.
But the reality TV star insisted ‘that’s not happening anytime soon’.
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