Jarrod Bowen handed West Ham transfer demand - even if Hammers are relegated

West Ham United are in a major relegation dogfight, staring the drop to the Championship in the face and with questions over the future of Lucas Paqueta and talisman Jarrod Bowen

Carlton Cole wants West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen to stick with the club - but understands why he would leave if they are relegated this season.

Bowen will mark six years at the Hammers at the end of this month and is hoping to earn a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup. But before that, he has serious business to attend to at home, with West Ham in the drop zone, seven points from safety, and in danger of being cut adrift.

A trip a few miles north to Tottenham on Saturday to face another struggling team desperate for good news and points is a crucial encounter in a season that has seen them win just three league games in 21 outings. And Cole, who made almost 300 appearances for the club over nine seasons, is saddened by what he sees and what might soon happen.

“I don’t want to think about West Ham without Jarrod Bowen,” former striker Cole told 10bet. “But if West Ham were to get relegated, I can see why it would turn his head to go somewhere else and keep playing in the Premier League.

“Jarrod is a keeper but it depends on what it looks like from West Ham’s point of view, whether they’re going to need the money. And if he was to leave, I don’t think it’d be because of him. He’s done more than enough to warrant playing for a top side in the Premier League.

“I was in that position as well when we got relegated. I could have gone back to a Premier League club, but I stuck it out and played one season in the Championship.

“I was involved in a team that got promoted at the first time of asking the next year. So it is good to stick around and help the club get back to the top flight if you can.

“But I wouldn’t begrudge him if he does want to leave if West Ham were to find themselves in the Championship.”

Cole does not blame manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who took over from Graham Potter in late September, for West Ham’s current woes.

“We’ve had a lot of managers in a short space of time,” said Cole. “Julen Lopetegui brought in a lot of players he felt would suit him and his style, and the club spent the money. Didn’t work out.

“Graham Potter comes in, he inherits the players Lopetegui bought. Doesn’t work out.

“Nuno comes in and inherits players from Lopetegui that he has to work with now. So, you’ve got to understand where we’re at, Nuno is just trying to clean the squad and try to get back to winning ways.

“We need the luck of the gods, and hopefully we can turn this around.

“A couple of home wins and then you can get going again and the crowd gets behind you. But, it does look a little bit bleak for West Ham at the moment because we’re so far away from Nottingham Forest.”