Liverpool
Michael Owen backs Liverpool to sign Jarrod Bowen as Mohamed Salah prepares for Anfield exit
Liverpool are staring down their toughest summer rebuild since Fenway Sports Group took over, and former striker Michael Owen thinks he has the answer to their biggest problem: Jarrod Bowen. With Mohamed Salah expected to walk away on a free transfer once this 2025/26 season wraps up, the club has to find a right-winger who can actually handle that pressure for the 2026/27 campaign. Speaking on talkSPORT, Owen didn’t hesitate to point toward the West Ham man.
The timing of this shout is a big deal. West Ham are currently buried in the relegation zone with only three games left, and they still have to face league leaders Arsenal. According to Opta’s supercomputer, there is a 75% chance the Hammers go down, and Owen based his pitch directly on that. While West Ham value Bowen at roughly £52 million, Liverpool would have significant leverage to drive that price down if relegation becomes a reality.
During this 2025/26 season, Bowen has put up eight goals and 10 assists over 3,135 minutes, holding a steady 7.21 FotMob rating. Those numbers show a reliable player, even if he hasn’t been spectacular. He’s got real quality, he can finish with both feet, moves intelligently when cutting inside, and never stops pressing. The main worry is still Bowen’s consistency against the big teams, where he sometimes disappears against top-tier defensive blocks.
Owen said on talkSPORT when asked if he would like to see Bowen at Liverpool: “How do you know? I have said that to a couple of my mates the other day. I said, if I had one player. Now, obviously, Jarrod Bowen’s a legend of a player, West Ham, you know, adore the man, and rightly so. But, if West Ham went down, he would fit for me.”
“I think he’s absolutely brilliant. I was lucky enough to do like a striking master class 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.”
“I think he’s a brilliant player. I would be taking him to the World Cup, and, as I say, you know, I don’t want to upset West Ham fans, but if they went down, then he would be my idea of somebody to replace Salah.”
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Would Jarrod Bowen genuinely solve Liverpool’s right-wing problem next season?
To be honest, the answer is probably not entirely, but he’d do a better job than most. Liverpool’s first priority is finding someone who would be the right profile for Arne Slot’s heavy pressing system, and Bowen has the engine to do exactly that. The real concern is his ceiling.
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Salah was a guy who regularly turned in 30-goal seasons. Bowen will be 29 by the time the 2026/27 season starts, and he’s unlikely to hit those heights. Still, bringing in a proven, hardworking player who hits double digits and creates chances is a lot smarter than gambling a fortune on an unproven talent. Owen’s logic holds up, and Liverpool could honestly do a lot worse.