Former red claims Liverpool need defender as a priority | OneFootball

Why Stephane Henchoz Believes Liverpool’s Priorities Lie in Defence, Not Bowen

Transfer windows have a habit of encouraging imagination. A single suggestion, casually floated, can quickly snowball into expectation, debate and division. That has been the case with Jarrod Bowen, a player long admired for his productivity and resilience, and recently linked – however loosely – with Liverpool amid West Ham’s struggles. Yet beneath the surface appeal of Bowen as a ready-made Premier League attacker lies a more sobering assessment from someone who understands Liverpool’s internal logic better than most.

Stephane Henchoz, a former centre-back who knows the demands of Anfield intimately, has poured cold water on the idea that Bowen should be a priority. Instead, his argument cuts to something more fundamental: Liverpool’s next decisive move, if it comes at all, should be for a defender.

Bowen Links Spark Familiar Transfer Debate

Bowen’s name inevitably carries weight. He has delivered consistently, reached double figures for goals across multiple seasons, and shown an ability to shoulder responsibility when circumstances grow difficult. When relegation talk begins to hover, opportunistic transfer speculation follows.

The original suggestion was framed as a pragmatic one. Bowen, at 29, is established, physically robust and tactically reliable. He would not need adaptation time. Former goalkeeper Ben Foster went as far as to say Bowen “could play for Liverpool quite happily” and would suit the club’s intensity.

But suitability is not the same as strategy. Liverpool’s recruitment model, particularly in recent years, has rarely been about short-term fixes. That distinction is central to Henchoz’s view.

Henchoz Makes Defender Argument Clear

Henchoz does not dismiss Bowen’s quality. He acknowledges it plainly. What he questions is whether Liverpool’s resources should be directed there at all. Speaking candidly, he said:

“I would definitely agree with Liverpool fans that what they need the most is a centre-back. They need a very good centre-back, somebody who is able to come, play, perform straight away.”

That clarity matters. This is not a vague call for depth. It is a statement about hierarchy. Henchoz continued:

“So they need to spend, and maybe they have to spend big, because to get this type of player, unless it’s somebody who comes on loan, only for six months period or something, you will have to spend big again.”

The emphasis is unmistakable. A defender, not a winger, is the profile that justifies investment. Henchoz’s reasoning is rooted in balance. Without defensive certainty, attacking additions risk becoming cosmetic.

He then addressed the attacking conversation directly, and Bowen by implication:

“Do they need another offensive player or striker? I don’t think so because I still believe that Mohamed Salah will be back after the Africa Cup of Nations. I still believe he’ll be motivated even after what happened before Christmas. And I still believe he’s got it.”

Henchoz’s confidence in Salah underlines his wider point: Liverpool’s attacking structure does not require emergency reinforcement. The problem, if there is one, lies further back.

Profile, Age and Liverpool’s Long View

Henchoz’s scepticism sharpens when the discussion turns to profile and age. Liverpool, historically, have preferred players whose peak years still lie ahead. Bowen, by contrast, would represent a deviation.

“Jarrod Bowen is a good player, definitely. Is he then the player Liverpool would be looking for? Maybe not, because if you invest money, you would maybe go for a younger player, somebody who you would spend money thinking I can resell him maybe later.”

That resale consideration is not incidental. It is central to Liverpool’s model. Henchoz elaborated further:

“Bowen is a bit older. And once again, he’s been very good at West Ham. Is he really able to do the same job again at a bigger club, on a bigger stage? Maybe, but I’m not sure.”

This is not criticism of Bowen’s ability, but an acknowledgement of uncertainty. Success at one club does not always translate seamlessly to another, particularly when expectations multiply.

Defender Need Shapes Transfer Reality

In the end, Henchoz framed the question as one of identity and discipline rather than desire.

“So then it’s always a club’s decision to decide which profile they will go for. And I’m not sure Bowen will be this profile.”

That line lingers because it feels decisive. Liverpool can admire Bowen, even privately. They can recognise his contribution and understand why his name surfaces in moments of uncertainty. But admiration does not equal alignment.

The original source of this discussion, reported by Liverpool.com, highlights how quickly a single idea can dominate headlines. Henchoz’s intervention restores proportion. It redirects attention away from tempting narratives and back towards structural needs.

If Liverpool are to act, Henchoz argues, it should be decisively and defensively. A commanding defender, capable of immediate impact, would not just plug a gap but stabilise everything else. Bowen, for all his qualities, sits outside that equation.