Michael Owen has put Jarrod Bowen at the front of mohamed salah transfer news, naming the West Ham captain as the player he would pick to succeed Salah at Liverpool. Salah is due to leave after nine glittering years at the end of this month, and Liverpool are assessing the market for at least one forward in the summer transfer window.
Owen’s Bowen Verdict
Speaking on talkSPORT, Owen said Bowen would be his choice if Liverpool had to replace Salah. He added: "if I had one player" and said, "Now, obviously, Jarrod Bowen’s a legend of a player, West Ham, you know, adore the man, and rightly so."
He then drew on a striking masterclass he did with Bowen last season. "I was lucky enough to do like a striking masterclass for a TV show we did last season with him, and I couldn’t believe it. Honestly, left foot, right foot, bang, bang, corners, pace. I mean, a real top finisher," Owen said.
Klopp’s Bowen Praise
Owen’s view is not coming from nowhere. Jurgen Klopp had already spoken highly of Bowen before a Carabao Cup encounter between Liverpool and West Ham in December 2023, when he called him "probably my favourite player besides my players."
Klopp also praised him in November 2021, saying, "I like Bowen a lot. He made his way up from Hull (City) and took not too long to get there, to show exactly what kind of player he can be in the Premier League as well." That background gives Liverpool a clear sense of how Bowen has been viewed at the top level for years.
West Ham’s Contract Problem
The obstacle is simple. Bowen is West Ham’s captain, is 29, and is under contract until 2030. West Ham are third from bottom in the Premier League, and Owen said Bowen would be his idea of somebody to replace Salah if West Ham went down.
That makes Liverpool’s forward planning more complicated even with Salah set to move on after nine years and the club already linked with Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig and Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao. Liverpool return to action when they host Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, while Bowen’s future remains tied to both his contract and West Ham’s position.
