Jarrod Bowen's West Ham future could be saved by Arsenal or Man Utd | OneFootball

Manchester United or Arsenal could help West Ham United retain Jarrod Bowen

West Ham United are set for a difficult summer transfer window following their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship.

However, one silver lining concerning Arsenal and Manchester United could help the Hammers retain long-serving forward Jarrod Bowen, who would be a constant attacking threat in the Championship.

Nuno Espirito Santo's men successfully beat Leeds United 3-0 on the final day of the Premier League season, but it wasn't enough to obtain top-flight survival, as London rivals Tottenham Hotspur defeated Everton.

Following their relegation from the top tier to the Championship, West Ham are set to miss out on major revenue, in particular that of TV, and must therefore sell many of their assets, with re-balancing a significant wage also a key priority for the decision-makers at the London Stadium.

Man United and Arsenal transfer developments can enable West Ham to retain Jarrod Bowen

Bowen has established himself as a modern-day Hammers great and was an outstanding performer for an otherwise poor side in the 2025/26 Premier League season, scoring nine goals and registering 11 assists.

Supporters will always be grateful for his top-flight exploits, and he also etched himself into the West Ham history books by scoring the winning goal in their 2023 Conference League final victory over Fiorentina.

According to the Daily Mail, Espirito Santo's side are set to sell nine players to raise £100million following their relegation from the Premier League.

Midfielder Mateus Fernandes is among the players the East Londoners are expected to sell, after notching three goals and four assists in 36 top-flight outings for the Hammers.

The 21-year-old was one of West Ham's best players in the 2025/26 campaign, but he has now suffered two successive relegations to the Championship, having represented Southampton in the previous season.

As reported by The Mail, West Ham want £80million for Fernandes amid interest from Man United and Arsenal, among others.

Recouping a handsome £80m for the former Saints player would see the Hammers receive most of the £100m they want to raise following their relegation to the Championship.

That would heavily bolster their chances of retaining Bowen, who is an England international with transfer suitors who can hand him the opportunity to remain in the Premier League.

According to the Independent, Chelsea have eyed a move for Bowen as Xabi Alonso looks to put his stamp on the squad at Stamford Bridge following his managerial appointment, with interest in the winger's services surely representing no real surprise in the wake of relegation.

Jarrod Bowen could wreak havoc in the Championship

Bowen may ultimately decide to leave West Ham to remain in the top flight and keep his England selection chances alive, regardless of how the Hammers fare elsewhere in the transfer market.

However, selling Fernandes for £80m would bolster Espirito Santo's chances of keeping the winger, who can also operate as a striker.

The 29-year-old produced a respectable return of 11 goals and 12 assists across all competitions in 2025/26, but he wasn't at his prolific best.

His career-best return arrived in the 2023/24 season, when he notched 20 goals and 10 assists, including 16 goals in 34 Premier League outings.

Those numbers prove that Bowen would be very prolific in the Championship, coming up against defenders who are not used to players of his top-flight quality.

Retaining the former Hull City man would be a huge boost to West Ham's chances of earning an immediate Premier League return, but it will surely hinge on getting their £80m asking price for Fernandes.

Bowen's previous body of work at the MKM Stadium, where he scored 52 goals in just two-and-a-half Championship campaigns before moving down to East London, serves as a timely indicator of the havoc he could wreak in the second-tier, not to mention the fact that the talismanic wide-man has only gone from strength to strength since then.

No Championship backline would be able to handle the England international, whose presence at this level would certainly be a sight to behold, and while his future remains uncertain, the impending sale of Fernandes will only strengthen West Ham's ability to retain interest in other assets and they must fight to retain him at all costs.