Journalist Paul Brown has noted a shift in the career of West Ham United’s star player. Bowen, the England international who joined the Hammers in January 2020 from Hull City for £22 million, is poised to take a major leap forward in his career. His contributions have been instrumental in David Moyes’ team’s promising start to the season.

West Ham are currently in discussions with Bowen’s representatives regarding a contract extension, as they are determined to keep him away from the grasp of Liverpool.

Reports indicate that the 26-year-old winger, who scored 13 goals last season and secured the crucial match-winner in the Europa Conference League triumph in June, has attracted long-standing interest from Liverpool. The Merseyside giants are contemplating whether to test West Ham’s resolve in the future.

Bowen’s form at the beginning of this season has undoubtedly caught Liverpool’s attention, with the player having already scored five goals. However, West Ham faces the risk of losing their talisman in the near future, as Bowen’s current contract, which pays him £80,000 per week, has less than two years remaining, making him an attractive target for potential suitors.

Bowen’s representatives are reportedly seeking a substantial pay increase, which would make him one of the highest-paid players at the London Stadium. Negotiations for a long-term agreement are expected to conclude in the coming months. Nevertheless, until an agreement is reached, transfer insider Dean Jones suggests that Liverpool will continue to monitor the situation closely, considering Bowen as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah.

Brown, reporting on GIVEMESPORT believes that Bowen’s reliability in the final third of the pitch has significantly improved, instilling confidence that he will capitalize on presentable opportunities and find the back of the net. The respected journalist sees the former Hereford United player as poised to elevate his game to the next level, especially since transitioning to the Premier League.

When questioned about whether Bowen is currently enjoying his most productive period in claret and blue, Brown shared his insights with GIVEMESPORT:

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“It’s a challenging question because he’s consistently delivered impressive performances for West Ham over an extended period. The stretch just before his debut for the England national team was notably strong.

“Presently, he appears more poised than ever to take a significant leap forward. He’s proven that he doesn’t require numerous chances in a match to make a decisive impact. When an opportunity comes his way, there’s a high level of confidence that he’ll convert it.

“In a game where you might only get one chance, if it falls to him, most observers would expect him to find the back of the net. He has certainly improved in that regard, in my opinion.”

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Moyes is also a strong advocate for Bowen’s inclusion in the upcoming England squad, which will be announced later this week. According to the Evening Standard, the West Ham manager responded to Bowen’s impressive goal-scoring performance against Sheffield United by stating that the winger “is as close now as he has ever been” to earning an England call-up.

Bowen’s performance in that match was described as “sensational” as he dismantled the newly-promoted Blades at the London Stadium. This eye-catching display came at an opportune time, with Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate preparing to announce the squad for the upcoming matches against Italy and Australia during the international break.

Currently, Bukayo Saka of Arsenal is England’s first-choice option on the right-hand side, having started seven of the last eight fixtures. However, statistics indicate that Bowen has made a more promising start to the campaign. With the form Bowen is displaying, it appears highly likely that he will add to his four caps, the last of which was earned in June 2022, when England faces Italy in Euro 2024 qualification and takes on Australia in a friendly.

Notably, Bowen has garnered support from his West Ham teammate Vladimir Coufal, who publicly endorsed Bowen and James Ward-Prowse as deserving selections for Southgate’s England squad.