Bowen in Emery's sights: Villa register their interest

Premier League side Aston Villa have moved for one of the summer window's notable names. Per The Athletic, Villa have shown strong interest in Jarrod Bowen, captain and star attacker of West Ham United, who were relegated last season. But this interest has not yet turned into a deal; financial constraints and a high fee stand out as the main obstacles in the way of the transfer.

Per The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell and Roshane Thomas, although Aston Villa have made their interest in Bowen clear, no official talks have yet taken place between the two clubs. Villa head coach Unai Emery is said to be a huge admirer of the English player; but the 29-year-old Bowen, with four years left on his West Ham contract, has not yet decided whether he wishes to leave. This is one of the main factors leaving the outcome of the process uncertain.

The biggest obstacle in the way of the transfer is the financial side. Due to profit and sustainability rules (PSR), Villa need to make sales from their squad before they can buy. Per industry sources, talks for Bowen are expected to start at around £50 million; but sources close to West Ham say the club has no intention of selling their captain. West Ham's stance of wanting to keep Bowen despite relegation makes the transfer difficult for Villa.

Bowen is a name who has stood out with consistent performances at West Ham since joining from Hull City in 2020. The English player being one of his team's top goal contributors despite a poor season forms the basis of Villa's interest. It is assessed that the income from selling Morgan Rogers, who is on Arsenal's radar, could be critical for Villa to finance this transfer. Competition for the named player is also expected to heat up over the summer, with clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton linked.

Source: The Athletic
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