{"id":663381,"date":"2025-12-30T22:24:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T22:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/663381\/"},"modified":"2025-12-30T22:24:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T22:24:14","slug":"west-ham-kid-is-outscoring-jarrod-bowen-as-manager-talks-up-really-good-signing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/663381\/","title":{"rendered":"West Ham kid is outscoring Jarrod Bowen as manager talks up ‘really good signing’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When even Jarrod Bowen is struggling to convert the relatively few chances West Ham United make in Premier League matches these days, that is when you know you are in trouble.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bowen apologised to the London Stadium faithful<\/a> after squandering a couple of rare openings during the damaging 1-0 home defeat by Fulham last time out.<\/p>\n

The captain has scored only twice in his last 12 Premier League outings. Michail Antonio\u2019s all-time record looks safe for the time being, then. Perhaps forever, if Bowen cannot prevent West Ham United<\/a> from slipping into the Championship.<\/p>\n

Though with five to his name in total, even an out-of-sorts Bowen does still remain the club\u2019s best source of goals. Crysencio Summerville hasn\u2019t scored since October 2024<\/a>. Lucas Paqueta\u2019s purple patch has evaporated into another dry spell, and Nuno\u2019s benching of Callum Wilson leaves the Hammers without a \u2018proper\u2019 number nine most matchdays.<\/p>\n

How do West Ham solve a PROBLEM like Summerville? <\/p>\n

Guess how many games it’s been since his last goal\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Crysencio <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n

How Nuno could do with a wideman like Gideon Kodua<\/a> to take the scoring burden on his shoulders, and ease the pressure on those around him with a well-timed glut of goals.<\/p>\n

Jack Wilshere wants Luton Town to sign West Ham United loanee Gideon Kodua <\/p>\n

Kodua planned to add goals to his game at Luton Town<\/a> during a loan spell in England\u2019s third tier. Taking his tally to eight from just 16 starts during a stellar festive period, the 2023 FA Youth Cup-winning captain has been as good as his word. <\/p>\n

No wonder Jack Wilshere, the man in charge at Kenilworth Road these days, is desperate to keep him.<\/p>\n

After netting twice in a 4-0 thrashing of Wycombe Wanderers on Boxing Day, Kodua opened the scoring in a 3-0 victory over Leyton Orient on Monday.<\/p>\n

Luton\u2019s decision to include an option-to-buy clause in the youngster\u2019s contract, then, is proving to be a pretty inspired one. <\/p>\n

\"GideonPhoto by Andrew Kearns \u2013 CameraSport via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Wilshere thinks the world of the \u2018exciting\u2019 Kodua<\/a>. Having come up against him as the head coach of Arsenal\u2019s Under-18s \u2013 Kodua\u2019s Youth Cup final wondergoal a couple of seasons ago made for a somewhat awkward introduction when the new boss took over \u2013 Wilshere is just happy to have the West Ham kid scoring for him rather than against him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, for sure,\u201d ex-England regular Wilshere told Luton Today<\/a> when asked if he plans to sign Kodua permanently in 2026. \u201cThat is in my opinion a really good signing with a really good option in it. <\/p>\n

He\u2019s stepped up and I always think that\u2019s a bit of pressure as well for a young player to come, because from the club\u2019s point of view, it\u2019s almost like a trial. He\u2019s taken it so I think yes, for sure [we want to keep him in Bedfordshire full-time].\u201d<\/p>\n

Luton have the \u2018option\u2019 to keep Kodua at Kenilworth Road <\/p>\n

At this stage, it is not known how much Luton would have to pay, or whether West Ham have themselves a sizeable sell-on clause. Considering how rapidly Kodua has added a ruthless streak to his game under Wilshere, this has the makings of the sort of sale which could come back to haunt the Hammers depending on the nature of those clauses.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like he\u2019s really found a home here,\u201d adds Wilshere, who has taken to making Kodua one of the first names on the Luton teamsheet, an upgrade from his previous \u2018supersub\u2019 role. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe players love him, the staff love him, he wants to get better. He\u2019s a guy who\u2019s coming knocking on the coach\u2019s door to go through clips and that\u2019s what you get, you get improvement. It gives you a little bit more confidence and he always looks a threat I think.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s asked about scoring and finishing. He practices finishing a lot, different types of finishes, and actually as well, which we\u2019ll sit down and go through it with him. I thought at times he maybe overdid it, too many touches and gave it away at times. But what I love about him is he\u2019ll go and do it again, go and try and do it again, loses the ball, but then he\u2019ll try and get it back quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

What CHANGES would you make to our West Ham and Brighton combined XI? <\/p>\n

And which Brighton players would you take at the Hammers?<\/p>\n

\"West <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n

Brighton and Hove Albion come to the London Stadium this evening<\/p>\n

West Ham host Brighton and Hove Albion on Tuesday night desperate for a first win since beating Burnley in November. <\/p>\n

Fail to do so, and the five-point gap between themselves and safety could grow even wider before 2026 even arrives.<\/p>\n

This would be a very good time indeed for Summerville to end his 14-month drought, then. Or for Bowen to recalibrate his sights somewhat.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Kodua] never loses his spirit, and that\u2019s important because as a young player you\u2019re not always going to make the right decision,\u201d adds Wilshere, the 20-year-old displaying the sort of bouncebackability many at his parent club could stand to learn from.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s starting to do [perform] more consistently and hopefully he can keep going now. He has a real warmth about him, an energy, and the lads feed off it. <\/p>\n

\u201c[Earlier in the season], he was in the team and then he wasn\u2019t in the team; he started, then scoring when coming off the bench, and that\u2019s a good story for the players. Because one moment you\u2019re in the team and then you might not have a good game, or you might be rested and someone else does well and you find yourself out of the team. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut the way to get back in the team is to do things right, train right, have the right attitude, try to get better. He definitely does that, so I\u2019m really happy with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

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