West Ham are in danger of losing their underrated £22m player to a bigger club – opinion | OneFootball

Much is made about Lucas Paqueta at West Ham United. The Brazil international playmaker made a strong start to his career at the Hammers and soon became a fan favourite.

There were also strong rumours about Manchester City coming in for Paqueta. Things have quietened down now, with the 27-year-old, who can also play as a winger, not having the best of times.

Amid the noise surrounding Paqueta, another West Ham player has gone under the radar. Jarrod Bowen has not always hit the headlines, but given his form this season and the situation of the Hammers, there is a very good chance that big clubs could come for him, if not in the January transfer window, then certainly in the summer of 2025.

Bowen has been West Ham’s best player this season. The 27-year-old winger has scored five goals and given four assists in 17 matches in all competitions.

The England international found the back of the net 20 times and provided 10 assists in 44 appearances for the Hammers last season. In the 2022-23 campaign, Bowen scored 13 goals and gave eight assists in 54 competitive matches.

What is remarkable about Bowen is that despite being a winger by trade, he has played as a centre-forward at times this season. West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui deployed him in that role against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend. He responded with a goal and an assist.

Bowen is 27 now and is at the top of his game. While no one is suggesting that he will want to leave the Hammers, there is every chance that if the London club do not do well this season and a big club comes for him next summer, he could be tempted to jump ship.

West Ham have to do their best to keep hold of Bowen. While the likes of Paqueta and Tomas Soucek often grab the headlines, the consistency and goalscoring prowess of Bowen must not be ignored.