Club worried about potential incoming bid from Liverpool to sign £50m attacker - Reds tipped to have bid accepted

According to the Times, West Ham are worried Liverpool will bid for Jarrod Bowen after they were tipped to have a bid accepted for the English forward.

January and the New Year began with most supporters feeling apprehensive about the Reds' chances of staying in the hunt for all four trophies available this season but things have gone brilliantly.

Liverpool progressed to the next round of the FA Cup, reached the final of the Carabao Cup and inched two points closer to Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

All the while coping without AFCON absences for Naby Keita, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, Covid-19 cases and injuries to key players like Thiago Alcantara but things are looking positive for the Anfield outfit.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move to sign Jarrod Bowen

A couple of weeks ago, Football Insider reported that Liverpool are "'hot' on signing Bowen and he is 'keen' to join" if a deal can be agreed in the summer although I don't think many expected him to sign for the Reds this month.

The Athletic's James Pearce then produced an article co-written by John Muller assessing the best options available to Klopp in the summer with Leeds United star Raphinha not appearing in the article.

A report from the Times, however, suggests that West Ham are afraid Liverpool will make a bid to sign the former Hull City star.

Reds tipped to have £60m bid accepted by West Ham for Bowen

Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny told Football Insider that he thinks a £60m bid would see Liverpool land the left-footed attacker in the summer although one report suggests his market value is at around £50million but English players often command a premium on top of typical market trends.

“For Bowen, you are looking at a massive fee. These big clubs have to know, these days they have to pay over the odds for these players.

“I think if you look at his form, his ability and how important he is to Liverpool you are looking at £50million. Maybe even £60million, West Ham do not need to sell. That’s the key thing here, so it could take that for a bid to be accepted.

“He’s brilliant and he could go on to be an England player as well so there is even more money added on.

“West Ham have to replace him as well and that is no easy feat. West Ham hold all the cards in any case.”

Bowen is good but does he have the 'X Factor' required to play for the Reds?

Many supporters on social media have vented their discontent at being linked with Bowen and I'm on the fence.

I recognise he's a good player having a great season but I don't know if he's good enough to compete with Mohamed Salah on the right-hand side of the Liverpool attack.

Of course, there is the scary possibility that the Egyptian leaves the club and needs to be replaced but if Bowen isn't good enough to compete with Salah then he certainly isn't at level required to match and replicate his legacy at Anfield.

The Englishman has scored 9 goals and assisted 10 for the Hammers this season to justify the hype surrounding a potential transfer to Liverpool in the summer but while he might be getting the numbers required, he's still not a match from my point of view.

Playing as an inside forward for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp requires the players in that position, Mane and Salah, to be incredibly quick to capitalise on the small spaces that open up as a result of counter-pressing.

Bowen is a great player but he's best when allowed to run at defences where his agility, close control and composure are most useful but I have my concerns over whether or not he'd be a good fit for the Merseysiders.