Nuno Espírito Santo has revealed just how important the Jarrod Bowen future was to West Ham after relegation forced the club to sell two of their biggest assets.
The Hammers boss says keeping as many leading players as possible was one of the club’s “main objectives”, with Bowen’s decision to stay described as “massive”.
West Ham have undergone substantial change since dropping into the Championship.
Mateus Fernandes joined Tottenham for £85million, while Crysencio Summerville moved to Al-Hilal for an initial £55m.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Carabao Cup opener against Portsmouth, Nuno addressed those departures and the club’s transfer plans.
He accepted losing talented players was a natural consequence of relegation, but West Ham were determined to prevent the squad being stripped any further.
Jarrod Bowen future was major West Ham priority
“It was one of our main objectives to keep as many players as possible,” Nuno said.
On Bowen specifically, he added: “Jarrod is committed to the club, and that’s massive for the club.”
The captain’s decision provides West Ham with some much-needed stability during a summer dominated by departures.
Bowen remains one of the most dangerous attacking players outside the Premier League and will be central to Nuno’s attempt to secure immediate promotion.
There is still significant work to complete around him.
ReadWestHam analysed on Friday how West Ham’s transfer rebuild remains unfinished despite raising £140million from Fernandes and Summerville, with midfield and attacking reinforcements still required.
Nuno also confirmed the club continue to work on new arrivals but stressed they do not want to make mistakes simply because the window is moving quickly.
West Ham have lost considerable quality this summer.
Keeping Bowen, however, gives Nuno a player capable of setting the standard for the rebuilt squad and leading another promotion challenge.
