West Ham United winger Jarrod Bowen has reportedly emerged as a transfer target of Liverpool and Newcastle United.
When Bowen made the £18m switch from Hull City to the London Stadium in January 2020, it was perceived that West Ham may have over-spent on a player who had not featured in the Premier League.
However, the playmaker has established himself as the Hammers' key player, contributing 45 goals and 33 assists from 166 appearances in all competitions.
As well as netting the winner in the Europa Conference League final last season, the 26-year-old has also earned recognition with England, earning four caps thus far.
Beginning 2023-24 with five goals and two assists has earned him selection for the upcoming Three Lions fixtures against Australia and Italy.
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Off the pitch, though, Bowen's long-term future remains uncertain, a result of less than two years remaining on his contract with the East Londoners.
According to talkSPORT, negotiations have been taking place behind the scenes with West Ham naturally keen to extend Bowen's contract in the long term.
Nevertheless, the same report adds that Bowen and his representatives are in no rush to sign a fresh deal at this stage, resulting in order clubs taking note.
Liverpool and Newcastle are said to be each monitoring the situation ahead of making a potential bid for Bowen in January or in the summer.
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The player's agents are allegedly open to seeing what offers may come Bowen's way, with the Merseyside giants and Magpies both competing for Champions League qualification for next season.
Jurgen Klopp's squad is arguably short of a versatile attacker, a spot that Bowen could fill having been deployed on the right flank and down the centre this season.
Meanwhile, Eddie Howe would see Bowen in a similar vein with the Englishman having made a habit of signing players that can be deployed in more than one role as the club bid to remain within FFP criteria.
That said, West Ham, themselves, could qualify for next season's Champions League, the club only three points adrift of the top four in the Premier League table and having already won two fixtures in the Europa League group stages.
Darren Plant
