Speaking on the Die for Three Points Podcast, Steve Bruce has been discussing some of his managerial regrets and one signing he almost made for Newcastle United.
The transfer market works in such a way that almost every manager at every level has a story of the one that got away, and unfortunately for Bruce, one of his worst near-misses came at Newcastle.
Indeed, according to the ex-Magpies boss, he very nearly signed four-time England international and current West Ham star, Jarrod Bowen, for the Tyneside club.
Bruce nearly landed Bowen
The gaffer shared his story of almost getting Bowen to Newcastle.
“The big one at Newcastle over the past couple of years was Jarrod Bowen who I had signed from Hereford for Hull City for about 50 grand. We watched him come through, a great kid. I had him parked at a service station on the M1, waiting for permission to see if we could do it and if I could scramble the money, but we couldn’t get the money together and he went to West Ham instead,” Bruce said.
Imagine him under Howe
Bowen probably wouldn’t have been able to make much of a difference for Newcastle under Steve Bruce – after all, they seemed to be a bit of a lost cause, but he would be thriving in this team under Eddie Howe.
Indeed, when Bowen is on top form, he’s one of the most dangerous attackers in the country, and as Howe has shown with the likes of Miguel Almiron and Joelinton, he knows how to get the best out of his attacking players.
Who knows? Perhaps this is one Newcastle could revisit one day. After all, they’re a club on the up and Bowen is more than good enough to be playing at the top level.
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