Liverpool's Gordon transfer plan put on back burner as Jarrod Bowen claim made

With Liverpool's approaches for Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon rebuffed, eyes should turn to West Ham's Jarred Bowen, says Reds icon Michael Owen.

The talk of Arne Slot's first summer in charge of Liverpool has been the future of the iconic Mohamed Salah. With just a year left on his current Anfield deal and extortionate Saudi Pro League offers looming, the Egyptian has seemingly decided to stay put this summer - getting along nicely with his new Dutch coach.

Regardless, life without Salah is on the horizon, and signing a replacement is on the agenda this window, with Newcastle's Gordon topping the list. However, with the Magpies managing to balance their books before the Premier League PSR deadline, all pursuits were quashed.

The English winger's nearly £100million price tag also put Liverpool off, but should the Reds' top scorer for the last seven years choose to depart next summer and not sign an extension, someone will need to fill his boots.

Ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid striker Owen believes that Bowen would be an ideal alternative to Gordon and could provide them with an admittedly older but perhaps cheaper option.

Speaking to Prime Casino, Owen said:  "The Mo Salah chat has sort of faded a little bit, so I'd be surprised if he left Liverpool, but the problem for the club is that he hasn’t got long left on his contract, so you have to make a decision one way or the other.

"They have great options at the moment with Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, and Darwin Nunez, but if one of them left, Jarrod Bowen would be my favourite.

"But he has signed a long-term contract at West Ham, and he might even be their captain. He also isn’t 19, so when you talk about a long-term replacement, you’re looking at players who might give you ten years and not be in their 30s in two or three years. I’m not sure clubs want to spend 10s and 10s of millions on those players nowadays."

Bowen, 27, is currently valued at £42m according to Transfermarkt. Still, the Hammers might demand a slightly higher fee should approaches be made, having reportedly slapped a £100m price tag on him in 2023 to ward off interest from other clubs.

Bowen's current deal at the London Stadium expires in 2030, so there will be no cut-price opportunity. The Englishman netted 20 goals in all competitions last campaign and assisted ten more.

He was linked with a move to Eddie Howe's Newcastle in May, but all rumours have subsided. The deal wouldn't be easy to get over the line, but with Salah's wages potentially off the bill next summer, the Reds could look to recruit one of the league's top wingers.