With Spurs and Newcastle both eyeing Jarrod Bowen, Graham Potter has been forced to respond to growing concerns that West Ham may be left with no choice but to cash in on their talisman.
Jarrod Bowen has been linked with a big-money move to West Ham’s bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur and mega-rich Newcastle United this week.
And, worryingly, not for the first time.
West Ham actually beat Newcastle to the £20m signing of Bowen on deadline day of the January window back in 2020.
Steve Bruce has since admitted he thought he had Bowen in the bag for the Magpies.
But the Hammers managed to get the deal done and Bowen has been the club’s best, most important and reliable player ever since.
Already a certified West Ham legend well on the way to being the club’s leading all-time Premier League goalscorer, it has been disconcerting for fans to see fresh links of a potential move to Tottenham or Newcastle.
Spurs and Newcastle want Hammers star Bowen
Likes both Spurs and the Geordies, West Ham fans are well used to seeing their best players leave when they perform at a consistently high level down the years.
Declan Rice and Harry Kane being exhibits A and B in most recent years for the Hammers and Tottenham.
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But with Bowen it has always felt different.
Not least because he signed a new SEVEN-YEAR Hammers deal only last season and has said he wants to retire at West Ham.
Last summer it was claimed by top sources in the north that Newcastle were preparing a big money move for Bowen. It was stated he is Eddie Howe’s top target.
That never materialised.
And West Ham gave short shrift to reports of a Tottenham approach too, telling their rivals they’d have to cough up £150m for the board to even consider it.
Amid fan fury that Spurs had even had the temerity to ask the question, West Ham responded emphatically on Spurs’ Bowen links.
Fast forward a year and with West Ham at their limit for PSR and in desperate need of sales.
The club’s owners have made no secret of the fact players need to be sold this summer to raise funds for signings.
West Ham insisted again Bowen is not for sale after recent links to Liverpool and Newcastle.
Supporters were understandably concerned, though, by the source of a new claim that Spurs are intending to try and sign Bowen this summer.
Because it came from a top Hammers insider who counts majority owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady among his contacts.
Spiky Potter responds to fears West Ham have to sell Bowen
And it was claimed Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is planning to try and take advantage of West Ham’s financial issues.
Now the potential sale of the club’s talisman to Tottenham or Newcastle has been officially addressed by the manager himself.
Spiky Graham Potter has responded to fears West Ham have to sell Bowen amid the interest from Spurs and Newcastle.
In what was a rather awkward press conference, Potter was put on the spot about Bowen by West Ham-supporting reporter Ian Abrahams.
He got straight to the point with Potter, asking whether he and West Ham will have to cash in on Bowen in order to fund a big rebuild, or whether he plans to build the team around the England attacker.
Potter initially said he ‘wouldn’t answer the question even if he could’.
But when pressed, the Hammers boss seemed pretty emphatic.
“Even if I could answer that, do you think I would answer that question?” Potter responded incredulously in the press conference.
To which Abrahams told Potter to be ‘honest’.
“I’m not that honest!” Potter quipped before eventually opening up to the question, which was clearly driven by this week’s rumours of the interest from Tottenham and Howe’s side.
Potter pressed for ‘honest’ response on Bowen future
“Look of course Jarrod is our captain, he’s fantastic, we want him to be here for the next 10 years.
“We want him to finish his career enjoying his football with us, achieving everything he wants as an individual and with a team that I think he’s got a real affinity towards.”
So there you have it West Ham, Spurs and Newcastle fans – Potter is fully planning on building his team around Bowen and not with the money he gets from selling him.
The proof of the pudding will, as always, be in the eating.
And a decision may be taken out of Potter’s hands if either club come knocking with a massive offer.
Although Sullivan and the board know they would have a revolting fanbase on theirs if Bowen is sold. Especially to Tottenham.