Yesterday West Ham United revealed Jarrod Bowen’s video on social media and his commitment to staying at the club next season. The Hammers’ faithful reacted – with a large exhaling of held breath – with both excitement and relief as we all celebrated the good news and of course, the enhanced chance this gives the Irons of bouncing back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Hopefully others will now follow Bowen’s lead and pledge their support to the club next season – in essence to dig West Ham out of the mess to which the same players contributed.
Daniel Kretinsky’s personal meet with Bowen obviously played its part as photos emerge of the two plus West Ham director – Kretinsky’s right hand man – Jiri Svark in Prague.
Trio meet in Prague as Bowen agrees a new deal to stay at the club next season
West Ham’s captain agreed a new contract which, according to our own source, close to several West Ham players, suggests a big trade-off as the price to keep Bowen’s camp happy next season:
“Jarrod Bowen’s contract does have a low buyout clause inserted if West Ham don’t get promoted next season: There is an option to extend the contract for another year (to 2031) if West Ham do climb back into the Premier League at the first attempt”.
In truth – we have been told the figure but we’re not revealing it. We don’t want to undermine the club or Bowen’s negotiating position next summer if things don’t go according to plan.
You’d feel having a realistic figure, though, as the quid pro quo for staying at the club for a year is fair enough, and it allows Bowen the chance to move on and rebuild his career if the Championship promotion bid fails next season.
Jarrod Bowen in preseason training in the new NB kit
On the upside, as per the NYTimes today, Bowen also has a “promotion incentive [which] would also see the winger receive a significant bonus for the club’s immediate return to the top flight”
All in all, the release clause offers West Ham a pretty clear cut scenario come May of next year, and it means the club will be participating in a high-stakes tightrope walk next season:
Get promoted or lose Bowen for good.
Of course he was going have a non-promotion clause, any sane person in his position would. Here’s why.
Imagine a scenario where we massively under-performed next season, the new board didn’t keep their promises, the squad was decimated, the fans turned on him etc. And yet he’s stuck on a long contract because no club will meet the high price the club is demanding.
I don’t believe any of those things will happen. I think it’ll be a tough but great season. But you’d be mad not to give yourself and your family some insurance.
But the contract length is the same. So he hasn’t committed to anything. In my eyes, by inserting a get out clause, there is less commitment than before.
Not bothered about the contract one bit that is down to the player his agent and the club i am just happy he is staying and if we fail to get promoted then good luck to the man.
Why not leave the contract the same??? He already had 4 years remaining. Seems like football suicide to me.
Because the clause to allow him to leave was a carrot to ensure he signed a new contract. Otherwise he probably wouldn’t have.
We didn’t need him to sign a new contract. He already had 4 years remaining and if reports are true he was still on a premier league wage and exempt from the 50% pay cut. Clearly I’ve misunderstood something because everyone seems very happy with this. I really don’t like the idea of sellling to Spurs on the cheap in 1 year’s time. Similar pathway to Carrick and Defoe.