Michael Owen Calls for Liverpool to Sign Jarrod Bowen as Salah's Successor

Michael Owen has thrown down a clear challenge to Liverpool’s recruitment team: if you’re serious about replacing Mohamed Salah, go and get Jarrod Bowen.

The former Liverpool striker believes the West Ham captain, fresh from a season of personal excellence amid collective collapse, is the “absolute perfect” successor to the Anfield icon.

From Klopp’s radar to Liverpool’s dilemma

Jurgen Klopp’s admiration for Bowen was never a secret. The German repeatedly spoke glowingly about the winger’s work rate and movement, and Bowen’s name has hovered around Liverpool’s scouting reports for several seasons without a deal ever materialising.

Now the landscape has shifted. West Ham have dropped out of the Premier League, and with relegation comes a brutal reality: elite players suddenly find doors opening that were previously bolted shut.

Bowen, though, did his part. While West Ham slid through the trapdoor, the 27-year-old produced a standout campaign, finishing with nine goals and eleven assists. In a struggling side, he still found a way to carry threat, create chances and lead from the front.

That, for Owen, is exactly why Liverpool should act.

Owen: ‘He has to be playing in the Premier League’

Speaking on Premier League Productions, Owen underlined both the emotional pull of West Ham for Bowen and the cold logic of a short football career.

“Under normal circumstances, no. But he is such a West Ham lad, he’s the captain, he’s adored by the club, his family are all from the area,” Owen said, acknowledging the bond between player and club.

If anyone might stay and fight in the Championship, it would be a homegrown leader like Bowen. Yet Owen quickly cut to the core of the issue.

“However, Jarrod Bowen is incredible, you’ve got a short career, I mean he has to be playing in the Premier League.”

The argument then sharpened. With Salah gone from Liverpool, a vacancy has opened on the right side of their attack that is as daunting as it is enticing.

“I’ve said for a long time, I don’t make any apologies, Mo Salah has gone now from Liverpool, I think Bowen is the absolute perfect replacement for Mo Salah at Liverpool,” Owen insisted.

For Owen, the logic is irresistible: proven Premier League output, a relentless engine, a left foot that can decide games, and a mentality shaped by carrying a relegation-threatened side.

‘Even the most ardent West Ham fan…’

Owen didn’t shy away from the emotional cost for West Ham supporters, but he framed a potential move as something even they might ultimately accept.

“If an opportunity came along for him like that, to play for Liverpool, then even the most ardent West Ham fan couldn’t begrudge that. Instead of playing in the Championship, go to one of the best teams in the world and fill Mo Salah’s boots, it’s really exciting for him.”

That’s the crossroads Bowen now faces. One road leads to a promotion battle in the Championship, trying to drag West Ham straight back up. The other, if an offer lands, could take him into a title race and Champions League nights in red.

Owen did leave one caveat. If Liverpool or another heavyweight do not step forward, he can see Bowen staying put.

“However, if an opportunity doesn’t come from one of the big boys like that, then maybe he’ll fight his way back into the Premier League with West Ham.”

Bowen: ‘My vision is getting this club back in the Premier League’

For now, Bowen is not playing the transfer game. Relegation is still raw, and his public stance is firmly tied to West Ham.

“Listen, it’s still very, very raw. Talking about futures is disrespectful to the club, the fans, everything like that,” he said when asked directly about what comes next.

“This club deserves to be in the Premier League. That’s our aim now, this season is done, our aim now is to get back in the Premier League. That’s as simple as it is.”

He doubled down on that message, pushing any talk of exits to one side.

“Like I said, it’s disrespectful to everyone to start speaking about futures and saying what’s going to happen.

“Like I said, I want this club to be in the Premier League. It’s a club that means so much to me, that’s given me so much, so my vision is getting this club back in the Premier League.”

Those are the words of a captain who feels the weight of a club on his shoulders. They are also the words of a player who knows the market will decide as much as his own loyalty.

Liverpool, meanwhile, stand at a critical point in their attacking rebuild. Salah’s departure has left a gap no one can truly replicate. The question now is simple: do they trust Bowen to step into that void, or does one of the Premier League’s most consistent wide forwards end up trying to haul West Ham back to where he clearly belongs?