Jarrod Bowen's Next Move: Five Exciting Destinations Ranked as West Ham Face the Drop

West Ham United fans heading to away fixtures will experience fresh venues and life without VAR next season, but there's no sugarcoating just how catastrophic relegation is for the club.

This is the ultimate "be careful what you wish for" scenario. David Moyes, who led the club to Conference League triumph in 2023, was effectively pushed out of east London following an admittedly underwhelming 2023–24 campaign. Two years later, his former club is bracing for life in the English Football League after 15 consecutive seasons in the top flight.

Sweeping changes are coming at the London Stadium, with their most valuable assets expected to attract serious interest.

Jarrod Bowen is one of the most important figures in the club's recent history, and supporters have long dreaded a move from one of England's elite clubs. Now, West Ham hold little bargaining power and may be forced to sell. While Bowen has publicly pledged his loyalty despite the club's situation, the decision may ultimately be out of his hands.

Here are five clubs who could pursue the English winger this summer, ranked by a blend of suitability and probability.

5. Tottenham Hotspur

West Ham lifted their unofficial transfer ban with Tottenham Hotspur last summer when the London rivals agreed a deal for Mohammed Kudus.

That transaction has now set a precedent between the two clubs.

Spurs' acquisition of Kudus has fueled speculation that they could return for West Ham's prized asset, but the Hammers' leadership would surely never approve selling a player so beloved by supporters to their fiercest top-flight rivals.

Few fans were pleased about the Kudus deal, even when the Ghanaian had fallen out of favor in the East End. Offloading Bowen to a bitter enemy would be an outrageous decision that would almost certainly generate serious backlash.

Spurs undoubtedly need more quality and options in attacking areas, but Bowen won't be heading to north London this summer.

4. Chelsea

A defining summer awaits Chelsea following a season of disappointment. A 2–1 loss at Sunderland served as a fitting end to their campaign, as they failed to secure European football entirely.

Their absence from continental competition may restrict the budget available to new head coach Xabi Alonso, who could deploy either a back three or four and is in clear need of better quality on the flanks.

The Blues must trim their bloated squad, and an underwhelming collection of wide players needs to be reduced. There is some promise with Estêvão, though the severity of his hamstring injury raises concerns at such a critical point in his growth. How he'll perform in 2026–27 remains to be seen.

Bowen represents the experienced leader Alonso is reportedly seeking, having also captained West Ham for the past two seasons. Chelsea are in desperate need of players with leadership qualities.

Several intangible factors make this deal plausible, with Alonso likely to appreciate Bowen's pressing intensity and effectiveness on the counter. He's also a composed finisher when the opportunity arises.

At this point, however, there appear to be more probable destinations.

3. Manchester United

Man Utd invested over $270 million (£200 million) to overhaul their attack last summer, and strengthening other areas of the squad will take priority as they prepare for a Champions League return.

Michael Carrick's no-nonsense approach delivered results at Old Trafford, producing the best points-per-game ratio of any Premier League manager this season. He was rewarded with a two-year extension, though tougher tests await.

United need greater squad depth, and questions remain over whether Amad Diallo can be consistently relied upon going forward. While the Ivorian brings energy and intensity without the ball, he has managed just one goal contribution at club level in 2026.

With Bryan Mbeumo offering versatility as a fluid center forward, United may look to strengthen on the right flank. They targeted the Premier League's finest a year ago and could now look to exploit West Ham's relegation to their advantage.

2. Aston Villa

Aston Villa appeared set for a difficult season under Unai Emery. Financial constraints restricted their activity in the transfer market, and the demands of Europa League football threatened to take a toll domestically.

But Emery is simply exceptional. Rather than sliding toward mediocrity, Villa lifted the Europa League trophy and secured fourth place in the Premier League — qualifying for the Champions League for the second time.

The financial boost that UEFA's flagship club competition brings should give the Villans more room to maneuver this summer, and Bowen had been loosely linked with a move earlier in the year.

On paper, Bowen isn't a natural fit, as Emery tends to favor wide players who cut inside and operate between the lines. The Englishman may need to be reshaped by the Villa manager.

While the tactical alignment isn't perfect, this is a transfer that feels easy to picture. And Bowen would continue wearing claret and blue.

1. Liverpool

Liverpool have long mulled handing Bowen the unenviable task of replacing Mohamed Salah, but it now appears they will instead look to Yan Diomande to fill that void.

The young Ivorian is a thrilling prospect who topped Europe's dribbling charts this season, but the Reds will need to spend heavily to prise him away from RB Leipzig. Furthermore, Diomande has only one season of elite-level performance to his name. Liverpool cannot afford to fall into another costly error, however high the ceiling may be.

With Bowen, they know exactly what they're getting. He won't leave you breathless, but he's a dependable contributor in the final third who shares certain traits with Salah — notably his directness, physicality, and perhaps a lack of the most refined technical polish.

If Liverpool can secure Bowen at a reduced fee following West Ham's relegation, they could still take the bolder gamble on Diomande alongside him.