Ian Darke: West Ham may entertain £75m offers for ‘inspirational’ player amid transfer rumors.

West Ham United made a significant financial commitment last summer, with a net spend exceeding £80 million.

Unfortunately, many of the club’s investments have failed to deliver the expected results.

Despite this, Graham Potter still has a capable squad at his disposal, but a reshuffle and a fresh approach will be necessary during the upcoming off-season if they are to meet their original goals.

The key factor in the summer transfer window for West Ham to have a successful season is to retain their star player, captain Jarrod Bowen.

Bowen’s contract runs until 2030, and while there have been reports linking him to a move to Liverpool, there has been no indication from the player that he is unhappy at the club.

In fact, the opposite seems true, as Bowen has become an integral part of West Ham since joining and is widely regarded as a leader on and off the pitch.

His contributions have certainly not been the cause of West Ham’s struggles this season.

Speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone, TV commentator Ian Darke noted that Bowen remains fully committed to the club, but he also believes that West Ham should be prepared for substantial offers for the England international.

Darke suggested that if a club were to offer £75 million, West Ham might have to consider selling the forward.

With the right offer, the club could use the funds to rebuild and strengthen the squad, which could be appealing to both Potter and the board.

Darke praised Bowen’s professionalism, recalling stories of him working on a farm in the off-season to maintain his fitness, which further highlights his dedication.

He noted that Bowen is a top performer, a regular England international, and a vital part of West Ham’s attacking force.

While Darke acknowledged that offers could come in for Bowen, he emphasized that with the player’s contract length, any offer would have to be substantial for West Ham to even consider selling.

However, the reality is that West Ham would gain more from keeping Bowen than from selling him for £75 million.

The club has shown that they can perform at a high level with Bowen in the squad, and his absence could very well see them dragged into a relegation battle.

On the other hand, the club has not demonstrated that they can spend the proceeds from a £75 million sale wisely.

The previous summer’s splurge, which involved several high-profile signings, has largely been a disappointment, and there’s no guarantee that selling Bowen would result in successful replacements.

This approach has been seen to fail at other clubs in the past.

For instance, when Tottenham Hotspur sold Gareth Bale to Real Madrid for £86 million in 2013, they invested heavily in new players, but only Christian Eriksen had a lasting impact, and the club still failed to secure any major silverware.

In contrast, Bowen has already achieved success with West Ham, including playing a key role in their historic Europa Conference League win.

He has become a legendary figure at the club and is irreplaceable in that sense.

Given his importance to the team, the answer to whether West Ham should consider selling him for £75 million is clear: they should say no.