West Ham United winger Jarrod Bowen has admitted that he thought a 2020 move to Newcastle United was ‘nailed on’.
Bowen has been speaking to Ian Wright and musician Tinie Tempah as part of the Premier League’s ‘Behind The Game’ series.
Bowen was understandably asked about how his move from Hull City to West Ham United came about in 2020.
The Hammers pounced to sign Bowen in a deal that now looks like an absolute masterstroke.
It could have been very different though as Bowen admitted that he thought he was going to Newcastle United rather than East London.
Bowen admits that he was looking for houses in Newcastle and thought a deal to join Steve Bruce was ‘nailed on’.
However, Newcastle scrapped the deal because Hull demanded £14million plus £6million in add-ons.
The Magpies wouldn’t pay that but West Ham were willing to strike a deal, giving Bowen a dramatic deadline day move as their interest came out of nowhere.
“It was deadline day, I had nothing, I thought I was going to Newcastle because Steve Bruce was there,” said Bowen. “I was looking for houses and everything, I thought it was nailed on. They said ‘we’re not paying the money’, I was like ‘alright, I’ll just stay at Hull’. It was £14million with £6million add-ons.”
“I’m sat there on deadline day, gone to training normally thinking I’m staying at Hull. I got to training, just as you do in the morning, the manager pulls me and says ‘what are you doing here?’, I was looking at him like ‘what? Why is he being so rude to me, what have I done?’, then he was like ‘We’ve accepted a bid from West Ham’. I didn’t even know they were interested,” he added.
Jarrod Bowen could still end up at Newcastle United
Bowen has become a Premier League star and essentially a bargain for West Ham.
The 26-year-old has now racked up 38 goals and 30 assists in 150 appearances for the Hammers.
Add in four England caps and Bowen has been one of West Ham’s best signings of the last five years.
What’s interesting is that Bowen is still on the radar at Newcastle.
Steve Bruce may have moved on but Eddie Howe appears to value the wide man very highly.
TalkSPORT claim that Newcastle are back in for Bowen ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Magpies appear to be keen on a right-sided winger who can cut in on his left foot.
Raphinha and Moussa Diaby have been linked and Bowen appears to be in the picture too.
West Ham would certainly demand a huge profit on Bowen with Newcastle now facing paying much more than the £20million Hull quoted them in 2020.
Maybe, just maybe, Bowen will end up looking for houses in the North East once again.
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