Liverpool‘s quest to find a worthy heir to Mohamed Salah has taken a dramatic turn following the Egyptian’s departure announcement, and TEAMtalk transfer insider Graeme Bailey has confirmed that the Reds have already received rejection from Bayern Munich over Michael Olise, while Paris Saint-Germain ruled out any approach for Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, or Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Against this increasingly narrow backdrop, Jarrod Bowen’s name surfaced as a potential solution, but two of Anfield’s most celebrated former players dismissed the idea in no uncertain terms.
Gerrard and Carragher say no to Bowen as Liverpool’s Salah successor
Speaking on Stick to Football, Jamie Carragher addressed the speculation directly: “No, I cannot see Bowen replacing Salah. He was maybe on Liverpool’s radar under Jurgen Klopp early on, but obviously, Mo Salah was already there. But no, he’d be too old for Liverpool.” Steven Gerrard echoed this stance, and their collective verdict carries real importance given that Liverpool’s recruitment philosophy has long prioritised youth and longevity in elite signings. (Via TEAMtalk)
Where Bowen stands in 2025/26?
Bowen has appeared in 31 Premier League matches this season, accumulating 2,781 minutes, scoring eight goals and contributing six assists for a combined 14 goal involvements, which places him eighth in the Premier League’s goal contribution rankings. He takes 2.17 shots per 90 minutes, carries an npxG of 8.86, placing him in the top 83rd percentile of Premier League players, and maintains a non-penalty expected goals per 90 of 0.29. In January, he became West Ham’s all-time leader for goal involvements with 103, surpassing Michail Antonio’s record.
Bowen’s critics have pointed to a Premier League goal drought stretching back two months, and he himself apologised publicly for missed chances. However, his underlying numbers tell a more balanced story than the noise surrounding him suggests. He presses from the front, attacks crosses aggressively, shoots early, and fights for second balls with the intensity of a centre-forward rather than a conventional wide player.
Liverpool hold talks with Mohamed Salah’s replacement
Where Bowen genuinely struggles is in consistency against sides that crowd the right flank and deny him inside channels, and at 29, his maximum threshold has arguably arrived. Transfermarkt currently values him at €35 million, considerably below West Ham’s €60 million demand. That gap alone signals a negotiation that would suit neither club comfortably. Carragher and Gerrard are simply right, and that is Liverpool need a player built for the next six years, not the next two.
