Liverpool have been told to make a move for West Ham and England star Jarrod Bowen should Mohamed Salah leave the club. The Egyptian’s future at Anfield remains up in the air following his outburst ahead of the African Cup of Nations.
While Salah has now been fully integrated back into the squad, he could still leave amid interest from Saudi Arabia. Former Liverpool star Joe Cole has now suggested that West Ham’s Bowen could be an ideal replacement, with the winger expected to leave the London side should they be relegated.
Speaking to Paddy Power, Cole said: “Jarrod is a wonderful footballer, a great character and a hero at West Ham. His name will stand shoulder to shoulder with all the great players that have played for the club. He’s loved at the club and he deserves, at the peak of his career, to win silverware and fight at the top level.
“If West Ham were to get relegated, it won’t be anything to do with what Jarrod Bowen has done; he’s been a stalwart for the club. I think he’ll walk away and the majority of the fans will accept that.
“Who does he suit? Obviously, Liverpool, that slot [out wide] might come into play if Mo Salah leaves. He can go and play anywhere.”
He added: “I think most West Ham fans will agree that the lad deserves to go to a team that’s going to match his ambitions and give him the opportunity to play in the Champions League and show the world what he can do.
“They’re not out of it just yet, though. If they stay up, he still needs to sit down with the owners and say ‘right, what are we?’. He needs a little bit of that swagger in him now. He’s an England player. He’s delivered.
“Whatever happens at the end of this season, he should be knocking on the owners’ door and be saying, 'What’s the plan? Here’s my ambitions, are you going to match it?'
“It’s you speaking to the club, not the club speaking to you. And that’s not arrogant, because you have a finite career as a footballer and you have to squeeze as much out of it as you can. It’ll be an interesting summer for Jarrod one way or another.”
Bowen, 29, joined West Ham from Hull in 2020. He has gone on to make 264 appearances for the club and has scored 82 times, while he also helped the Hammers to the Europa Conference League title in 2023. The England winger remains under contract with West Ham until 2030, with an option for a further campaign.
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