An astonishing Jarrod Bowen revelation may shock Julen Lopetegui and gives him a big dilemma when he takes over at West Ham.
Julen Lopetegui will take over a West Ham side undoubtedly in need of a sizeable rebuild.
But that’s not to say he doesn’t have quality players to shape that very rebuild around.
The West Ham squad is weak and thin but the first XI has X-factor and power.
Alphonse Areola, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Emerson Palmieri, Edson Alvarez, Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus are all top players.
Lucas Paqueta is obviously in that conversation too – should he remain with the Hammers amid speculation over a move to Man City.
There is no doubting Bowen’s future, though.
West Ham’s top goalscorer signed a new seven-year deal this season.
Bowen is West Ham’s man for all seasons
Bowen has toasted it by scoring 20 goals and laying on 10 assists in all competitions so far for the Hammers.
Last summer David Moyes sold Gianluca Scamacca after just one season in east London.
The Scot did not replace him, instead declaring he would be using Bowen as a striker.
That has had mixed results if truth be told. West Ham fans and observers feel Bowen offers the team more in his preferred right-side position.
But Kudus has done some of his best work on that side too.
Michail Antonio’s return to form of late has seen Bowen move back to the right.
With Antonio turning 35 next season and Danny Ings likely to be moved on, West Ham will surely be in the market for a new striker.
It will be fascinating to see whether the Hammers’ new manager concurs with Moyes and sees Bowen in that role.
An astonishing Bowen revelation may shock Lopetegui and it gives him a big West Ham dilemma.
Astonishing Bowen revelation may shock Lopetegui
Indeed it may even shock some fans across the Premier League.
Because it has been revealed that since making his top flight debut for West Ham, Bowen has more goal contributions than a staggering list of the league’s top players.
Bowen has 43 goals and 30 assists in the Premier League since his debut back in 2020.
A journalist has revealed which player Lopetegui is most excited about working with at West Ham. And it isn’t Bowen.
But it might well be after he reads this.
New manager’s first big West Ham dilemma
It will undoubtedly have Lopetegui wondering what to do with Bowen next season.
In an ideal world West Ham sign a top striker and a new left-sided player if they need to replace Paqueta.
Then Kudus can play more centrally – where he is most dangerous and prefers operating.
Bowen can then stay on the right from where he makes the Hammers tick.
The Spaniard may be so impressed by those numbers, though, that he wants to continue Moyes’ striker experiment with Bowen.
It’s a good dilemma to have of course.
But not necessarily a straightforward one to solve as it all hinges around getting the right striker in.
Get that particular balance right and Lopetegui could be off to a flyer in east London.
