Why you can probably close the book on the Bowen to Tottenham rumour

The Athletic yesterday reported that Tottenham might pursue West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen as a Harvey Barnes alternative, a rumour you can almost immediately discount.

Every time the Athletic as much as mentions a potential transfer target, it spreads quicker than a fake Fox News headline.

And for good reason.

The Athletic is one of the most trustworthy, reputable footy publications, on the same level as Fabrizio Romano, at least where transfer news is concerned.

But this rumour has about as much chance happening as a Brit getting a golden brown tan the first day of holidays after not seeing the sun for a fortnight.

Bowen, while a homegrown talent who would be a tailor-fit asset for the Ange Postecoglou revolution, isn’t an obtainable target.

It’s not the price tag that makes Bowen somewhat unreachable but his soon-to-be unrivalled importance to West Ham.

He would probably cost between €30 and €40 million, so reasonable and nothing too exorbitant. By the way, the 26-year-old attacking midfielder/striker is worth every penny. He exudes a venomous ability to unnerve defenders with his basic but effective attacking style.

Declan Rice is almost assuredly outbound; his head turned, and rightly so, by Arsenal and Manchester City’s unflinching interest. Bowen’s stock will skyrocket when Rice decides between the two (let’s be real, it’s going to be City).

There’s no way the Hammers can afford to lose Rice and Bowen.

Don’t let their winning Europa Conference League campaign fool you, as before their unlikely run, they were ensnared in a relegation dogfight for a large portion of the 2022-23 campaign (Ok, so despite it being the least glamorous competition, their trophy makes me go puke green with envy.)

Much like visiting the dentist to get your teeth cleaned, the relegation zone is a place West Ham will not want to revisit. Losing Bowen would significantly increase the chances of that happening.

Also, West Ham would rather bring back Avram Grant than sell one of their most prized assets to a loathed adversary.

Unsurprisingly, the Athletic said West Ham would be reluctant to sell. That’s the understatement of the millennium.

So let the links to Bowen fade like a fake tan in London, and don’t expect to see a Here we go! anytime soon.