Since Mark Noble retired and Declan Rice moved to Arsenal, Jarrod Bowen has become Mr. West Ham United. It helps Bowen that he is married into the club; he is the husband of Dani Dyer, whose father, Danny, is one of West Ham's most famous supporters.
Bowen is now West Ham's captain and scored the winning goal against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final. However, with the Hammers being in a relegation battle, there are concerns about Bowen's long-term future at the club.
He has recently been linked with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. However, moving to Spurs would be very unpopular with West Ham fans. Tottenham are also in the same relegation battle as the Hammers, so moving to the North London side would be risky.
Manchester United is one of English soccer's biggest clubs, but it is far from the powerhouse it once was under Sir Alex Ferguson. They are currently in another transition period with former West Ham midfielder Michael Carrick in charge until the end of the season.
Who is Jarrod Bowen now being linked with?
Now Bowen is being linked with a surprise transfer. According to indykaila News, Aston Villa are "making enquiries to sign Jarrod Bowen in the summer. The player is keen for a new challenge in the summer."
Villa are currently fourth in the Premier League, so they are on course to be in the Champions League next season. For purely footballing reasons, a move to Villa would make sense for Bowen.
If West Ham is to be relegated, then Bowen will have to move on. He is an England international, and his chances of playing for Thomas Tuchel's side will decline dramatically if he is in the Championship. It would be a similar situation to when Scott Parker left for Tottenham Hotspur in 2011 after the Hammers' last relegation.
Bowen is contracted to West Ham until 2030, and is currently at a club where he is the main man. He will not likely get the same love he gets at the Hammers anywhere else. Nuno Espirito Santo's side needs to stay in the Premier League to ensure the best chance of keeping Bowen.