West Ham's relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season has thrown the future of Jarrod Bowen into major doubt.
The 29-year-old is undoubtably the Hammers' best, and most valuable, player, so to see him linked with staying in England's top flight is far from surprising.
Chelsea are one of the clubs most heavily linked with the Englishman as Xabi Alonso, who takes charge at the start of next month, looks to add some much needed experience to his options.
Getting Bowen out of east London won't be straightforward, though, regardless of West Ham's newfound Championship status.
What West Ham are saying about Jarrod Bowen leaving this summer
Not only did Bowen play down the prospect of leaving the London Stadium in the aftermath of the side's relegation, but according to journalist Kieran Gill at the Daily Mail, senior sources inside the Hammers are also adamant he won't be leaving this summer.
"I used to cover West Ham, and so still know some senior sources there. Every time I ask them about Bowen, I receive the same reply: ‘He’s not for sale.
I don’t entirely believe that, but that’s the line they’re sticking with, including when asked if £35m would be enough to prise Bowen out of their hands."
Of course, this stance is likely to ensure they can extract maximum value from the 29-year-old's almost-inevitable departure, but Chelsea won't want to be dragged into an overinflated bidding war.
On the flip side, the Hammers have time on their side. Bowen is under contract for another four years and he definitely loves the club, so seeing him stay to try and help win instant promotion also wouldn't be a surprise.
Hammers legacy at stake
Bowen's performances over the past six years, which included scoring in the 2022-23 UEFA Conference League final, have seen him cement himself as a genuine legend of the club.
Joining Chelsea, or any other London-based club, would have the potential to ruin the winger's legacy at West Ham, and that could play a part when it comes to deciding what he wants to do next.
While most supporters probably wouldn't begrudge him moving on, they won't want to see him move across town to team up with a direct rival.
Since joining the Hammers from Hull City in 2020, Bowen, who was named the side's captain before the start of the 2024-25 campaign, has scored 85 goals and provided 63 assists in 280 games in all competitions.
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