My move to Newcastle United was 'pretty nailed on' - but I ended up joining West Ham United
Things could have been very different for Newcastle United - and Jarrod Bowen.
Jarrod Bowen has revealed how close he came to joining Newcastle United in January 2020.
Newcastle’s head coach at the time Steve Bruce handed Bowen his big professional break when he signed him for Hull City from non-league side Hereford in 2014.
Then, after netting 54 goals in 131 appearances for the Tigers, Bruce planned a reunion with the forward on Tyneside but the Magpies, under the ownership of Mike Ashley, refused to meet his asking price.
Bowen went from thinking his move to St James’ Park was “pretty nailed on” to instead joining West Ham United in the space of a few hours on deadline day.
"He said it as well," Bowen told Sky Sports. "Sometimes when you say things and you don't get backed up, you look a little bit like you're lying almost.
"He signed me for Hull from Hereford. He always said he paid money for me, but he never did because I was on a free, which I never understand.
"He gave me the opportunity at Hull and was great with me. He gave me a start in my journey at a club like Hull, which, at the time, was an incredible feeling. I had a really good five or six years there and, then, that deadline day, he tried to sign me at Newcastle.
"I almost thought I was going there. It was pretty nailed on - it was almost done - but then they wouldn't pay the money and West Ham swooped in.
"I was waiting at the services thinking, 'Am I going north or am I going south?' I ended up going south and I've never looked back since.”
West Ham paid a fee totalling around £20million for Bowen, which has proven to be an inspired move. Bowen has made 225 appearances and scored 67 goals, including the winner in the Europa Conference final. He now captains the club.