Manchester United may need to act quickly if they want to secure a summer transfer for Jarrod Bowen. The West Ham forward is widely expected to leave east London after the Hammers were relegated to the Championship on the final day of the season.
Although the club reportedly values Bowen at around £50 million, some reports suggest a bid closer to £40 million might be enough to complete the deal. Bowen has been one of the Premier League's most effective performers this season, registering 11 goals and 12 assists in all competitions.
Unsurprisingly, his performances have attracted major attention, with Chelsea now reportedly considering a move for the 29-year-old. However, United may hold one advantage over the Blues: they can offer Bowen his preferred shirt number.
The England international has regularly worn the No. 20 jersey throughout much of his career, including the past six years at the London Stadium. At United, that squad number recently became available after Diogo Dalot switched to the No. 2 shirt before the start of the 2025/26 season.
Chelsea, meanwhile, already have Joao Pedro wearing the No. 20 shirt at Stamford Bridge. While the Brazilian has been linked with a blockbuster summer transfer to Barcelona, the Blues are reportedly unwilling to let him leave following an outstanding first season in west London.
As reported by Metro, Chelsea have tracked Bowen for some time as they look to add more experience and versatility to their frontline. Incoming boss Xabi Alonso is also believed to be a huge admirer of the West Ham player, having previously praised him during his time managing Bayer Leverkusen.
"He's one of the top players for sure, not just in terms of goals, but energy as well," Alonso told TNT Sports in 2024. "He's a real threat in their transitions in the last third - he has a great foot, so that's why he's one of the top players in the English squad."
That said, Bowen's close bond with West Ham supporters may make a transfer to London rivals Chelsea harder to justify than a move to Old Trafford. United are also able to offer Champions League football next season after Michael Carrick's team finished third in the Premier League, ending the season 19 points clear of Chelsea.
At this stage, Bowen remains tight-lipped about his future. After West Ham's relegation was confirmed, he posted an emotional message apologising to fans on social media.
"It's hard to post something like this when all you're feeling is embarrassment and pain," Bowen shared on Instagram. "I could write loads trying to explain where it all went wrong this season, but honestly what you deserve from me is an apology."
"Winning that trophy in Prague was the best night of my career. Sunday was the worst. We just weren't good enough. Simple as that. And that's why the season ended the way it did."
