Klopp's 'favourite player' has already been tipped to replace Salah at Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp's has described West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen as one of his "favourite players" amid continued links with the England international.
Bowen, 27, scored West Ham's only goal in Liverpool's thumping 5-1 Carabao Cup victory at Anfield on Wednesday. It was a brilliant goal, too, as the England winger showed good strength before curling an effort into the far corner with his right foot.
Klopp was asked about West Ham's quality ahead of Wednesday's game and highlighted Bowen. The Liverpool boss said: "(Bowen is) probably my favourite player besides all my players, I have to say. It's great what he is doing and how he has developed."
Klopp's comments come just weeks after Bowen's West Ham team-mate Michail Antonio tipped him to succeed Mohamed Salah at Liverpool. The Egyptian's long-term future is in doubt, with Al-Ittihad hoping to lure him to Saudi Arabia in the coming months.
Al-Ittihad saw a £150million bid for Salah, 31, rejected on deadline day during the summer. Yet one of the main reasons why that bid was rejected was the timing of it. The Reds may be willing to accept a huge offer if they have time to find a replacement.
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Bowen is highly regarded within the English game. He started his career at Hereford United before joining Hull in 2014 after his boyhood club went bust. He scored 54 goals in 131 games for Hull to persuade West Ham to pay £22m for him in January 2020.
The five-cap England international has proven himself at Premier League level by scoring 37 goals in 141 games in England first tier. He scored the winner against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final last season to be named as the Man of the Match.
West Ham are likely to demand a huge transfer fee for Bowen - perhaps more than £100m - as he's under contact until June 2030. "He is a bags-man!" Antonio told the Football's Football Podcast in October. "Everything he is touching is turning to gold right now.
"But hey, it's going to cost a lot of dough, man has just signed a seven-year deal. The money you get from Salah, you are going to have to give it to us! He's quality, left-footed and plays on the right-hand side like Mo Salah, so he is the perfect replacement.
Jarrod Bowen scored a stunning goal against Liverpool on Wednesday (Getty Images)Do you think Jarrod Bowen will join Liverpool? Let us know in the comments below!
"But hey, it's not going to be easy to get him out of here. It won't be easy because that's a seven-year contract man has just signed."
Liverpool will face Fulham in a two-legged semi-final in the Carabao Cup in January. The tournament's other last-four tie will see Chelsea take on Championship side Middlesbrough, who are managed by Manchester United legend Michael Carrick.
Four players scored for the Reds on Wednesday, as Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah all found the net. Curtis Jones also bagged a brace. Klopp was asked by BBC Radio 5 Live what impressed him the most after his team's latest victory.
"The performance, the scoresheet, the result and the individual performances put together to make a team on the pitch," he replied. "We were brave in our positioning, our second ball game was exceptional. It was a really, really good performance from start to finish.
"The boys enjoyed it a lot. They worked hard but enjoyed it too with joyful football in moments. Nice to see... Dominik has these kind of finishes in his skillset and I hope Curtis took a real step forward. That is something he can add on."
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