Jarrod Bowen Desperately Needs To Avoid Relegation This Season... Or His Career May Be Over

Bowen's Not On Fire

Quite frankly, West Ham have been a train wreck this season. It's hard to remember the last time The Irons had a good spell in the Premier League as every season seems to be a turbulent relationship with relegation and somehow narrowly avoiding it.

Winless in their last nine league matches and an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Wolves made their survival hopes diminish in the space of 90 minutes. Wolves have been a free win for anyone they've come up against this season, but West Ham were poor enough to concede three and not even score a goal themselves.

Nuno might be a good manager; however, it looks like the five points that sets them between 17th-placed Nottingham Forest and West Ham will continue to increase as the season progresses. The squad looks diminished and mixed with older players who should have retired a while ago and youngsters that aren't ready for the Premier League.

One man that is suffering the most is Jarrod Bowen whose fire seems to have extinguished. The 29-year-old must be wondering how he has ended up in this mess and that his prime is being wasted. The England international should have left when he could or was Danny Dyer making him stay?

The least of our problems. He didn’t ask for the armband, he is a naturally reserved character who has given everything for us.

Even if we go down Jarrod Bowen is a West Ham legend ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/aIHYrPok8m

— westhamlive5 (@westhamlive5) January 4, 2026

No More England

Playing in the Championship aside, Bowen's biggest worry going into the second half of the season is England. The 2026 World Cup is getting closer and closer but with West Ham's poor record and Bowen struggling, his chances of making the squad could be slipping away.

In his defence, six goals and an assist isn't a terrible record for a side sat in the relegation zone. However, Thomas Tuchel will want someone that is full of confidence and in their best form. Bowen is nowhere close to what he was in the past seasons, and it will affect his chances of being selected. England have so many options out wide that if Bowen didn't make the squad it wouldn't exactly be a shock.

The forward has registered 20 caps for England and did make the Euro 2024 squad. Tuchel has chosen him for England's most recent friendlies and he has featured. But not only does Bowen never really seem to make an impact for The Three Lions, Tuchel might think his head might not be fully focused on the World Cup Trophy.

Being a part of a relegated side and an upcoming summer of potential transfer talk could disrupt the England changing room and Tuchel might decide it's best off if Bowen doesn't get on the plane. Bowen has to have the best half a season of his life to stand a chance of being selected, especially if West Ham get relegated.

Attached To A Relegated Club

Whether he might have or not chosen to wear the captain's armband, he is the West Ham captain. He would potentially be the biggest talking point if a relegation were to happen and face criticism for not steering the club in the right direction.

As much as West Ham relies on Bowen, he relies on the club to facilitate a potential transfer for him and his future at the club. He has been such a pivotal part of the club in recent times so West Ham will be all the more hesitant in letting a club legend depart.

Don't forget he signed a seven year contract in 2030 so if West Ham were hesitant in letting him depart, Bowen would have to wait until he is 33 years old before he could depart. The Irons know that his market value would decrease in the Championship so they have all the time in the world to wait for a potential return to the Premier League to cash in on their star man.

A return to the Championship would do Bowen no favours except potentially forcing him a move out the club. He hinted before that he would only potentially leave if the club were relegated.

It is an unorthodox case with Bowen as he is married and settled in London, with strong ties to the club. The club and Bowen are also like a married couple and like married couples, a divorce would get very messy.

⚪️🔵🚨| 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍! | Recent reports have linked the Lilywhites with West Ham star Jarrod Bowen 💫

The deal could be likely due to the Hammers’ poor form this season which could see relegation.

[👨🏻‍💻] - @TheLaneAndBack #TOTTENHAM | #COYS | #SPURS pic.twitter.com/b9WLB6ESOt

— All Eyes On Tottenham (@AllEyesOnSpurs) January 5, 2026

Which Clubs Will Want To Sign Him?

Interest in Bowen is at an all-time high with clubs looking to cash in on the forward before the January window closes. There is no doubt that Bowen could perform at the top sides in the league and this is the best chance to join a club that is rumoured to be interested in him such as Spurs and Manchester United.

This puts Bowen in a really tricky situation. If he left now then it could be seen as abandoning the club at a time that they need him most, and that he is only interested in playing for the club that pays the most. West Ham have stated that they are looking to spend in January and the arrivals of Taty Castellanos and Pablo show early signs of real intent to stay up. Fans will hope Bowen stays at least until the end of the season to help guide them to safety.

If Bowen rejected any transfer interest that he has now and then gets relegated, this will put him in a really tough spot. Teams might look past Bowen if he fails to keep West Ham in the Premier League and will look at other recruitments. Football is a business at the end of the day and Bowen would rather join a top club now instead of potentially playing Championship football next season.

It is going to be a hard few months for Bowen who has a lot of decisions to make and football to play. Just know that if West Ham are relegated, it's his career that will be affected more than anyone's and definitely not for the better.