Jarrod Bowen is reportedly preparing to leave West Ham, with his desired next move revealed amid Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United and Newcastle interest.
Chelsea eye Bowen as West Ham ponder fire-sale
The writing may be on the wall for West Ham.
Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Newcastle — their third successive loss — has left Nuno Espírito Santo's side 18th on 36 points with one game to play. Tottenham, two points above them in 17th with a vastly superior goal difference, need just a single point to confirm survival.
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West Ham must beat Leeds at the London Stadium on the final day and hope Spurs lose their last match at home to Everton.
The maths is brutal. Relegation to the Championship for the first time since 2012 looks very likely.
If the trapdoor opens, the exodus will follow.
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Mateus Fernandes has already attracted interest from Arsenal, Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool, with the club holding firm on an £80m valuation.
But he will not be the only departure.
Bowen, the Hammers captain who has been one of the Premier League's most consistent wide players for the past five seasons, is preparing for life away from the London Stadium.
Jarrod Bowen's desired next move as he prepares to leave West Ham
According to journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea have identified Bowen as a potential summer target and have placed him on their internal shortlist of players they may look to approach.
West Ham Bowen
The interest predates Xabi Alonso's appointment — the club's recruitment team flagged the West Ham captain as a name worth pursuing before the Spaniard was even in talks over the job.
However, any move would still need Alonso's approval, and Phillips notes that it is unclear at this stage whether the new manager has signed off on the idea.
What makes the story particularly interesting is the detail around Bowen's own preferences.
Phillips' sources confirm that the England international has a strong desire to remain in London if he leaves West Ham, which would make Chelsea an immediately attractive option.
United, Liverpool and Newcastle have all been linked with Bowen in recent weeks, but the prospect of staying in the capital — close to his family, his home, and the life he has built over the past six years — is understood to be a significant factor in his thinking.
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Chelsea's interest is not as a guaranteed starter.
Phillips reports that the club view Bowen as a versatile rotation option who could fill multiple positions across the front line, with the emphasis on building stronger backup options and adding experience to a squad that has lacked both this season.
It would be a different role to the one Bowen has occupied at West Ham, where he has been the talisman and the man everything runs through.
Whether that appeals to a player who has started 37 Premier League games this season and contributed eight goals and 10 assists is another question entirely.
West Ham's Jarrod Bowen
No formal approach has been made, but Chelsea are believed to be monitoring the situation and will only move if West Ham's relegation is confirmed.
Bowen's contract runs until 2030, which gives the Hammers significant leverage even from the Championship.
For now, Bowen's focus will be on Sunday and one final attempt to keep his club up. But if that does not work, the phone will ring quickly. And Chelsea may well be the ones calling.
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