Jarrod Bowen almost joined another Premier League club after service station transfer talks

Steve Bruce revealed Jarrod Bowen was ‘the one that really got away’ during his stint in charge of Newcastle.

After a blistering first half of the season for Hull City in the 2019/20 Championship campaign, Bowen was a wanted man by a swathe of Premier League clubs.

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Bowen, aged 23 at the time, had already earned inclusion in the English Football League‘s (EFL) team of the season for the prior term having bagged 22 goals in 46 Championship appearances.

West Ham United ultimately won the race for his signature as they forked out an estimated £22million for the forward.

How Bowen almost joined Newcastle instead of West Ham

However, had Bruce, who was in charge of the Magpies at the time, had his way, it could have been oh-so-different.

Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, Bruce lifted the lid on his talks with Bowen at a rather peculiar location as he did all he could to change the prodigious talent’s mind.

“I had him at Wetherby services for two hours and tried to do a deal before he went to West Ham,” Bruce said.

“I couldn’t get it over the line and unfortunately, he went to West Ham.

“It’s the one that really got away, but he was virtually coming to Newcastle. And, as I said, couldn’t get it over the line.”

It would not have been the first time Bruce signed Bowen in his career.

During his time in charge of Hull, Bruce brought Bowen to the club from Hereford United in July 2014 on a free transfer.

Hull were able to do the deal for nought after Hereford failed to pay Bowen in full amid serious financial issues which ultimately led to the club being wound up in December 2014, although a phoenix club, Hereford FC, has since been formed and are now competing in the National League North.

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However, Bowen never played a competitive fixture for the Tigers during Bruce’s tenure as the latter departed the club in July 2016.

Bowen’s West Ham switch has proved to be a wise one

Bowen’s move to east London has borne fruit, as he’s gone on to represent the Hammers on more than 260 occasions and score 81 goals.

The forward’s blistering form over the years for West Ham, who he skippers, helped him earn 20 caps for England.

Bowen also played a vital role in West Ham’s first European trophy as his 90th-minute strike helped the Hammers beat Fiorentina to clinch the Conference League title in June 2023.

Ally McCoist and Steve Bruce heap praise on Bowen

Ally McCoist, who joined Bruce on talkSPORT Breakfast, waxed lyrical about the West Ham star and hailed his ability to consistently produce strong performances.

“I just think he’s definitely class,” McCoist said.

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“We’re talking about you seeing a coach and a manager and you like stability and you like players that you can rely on and know what you’re gonna get.

“I watched Jared Bowen and I watched him over the weekend and he was absolutely terrific.”

Bruce added: “You’re going to get seven out of ten every week. He’s got the ability to score a goal from a wide area, which is crucial to it.

“Sometimes they fall on you. He was playing as a 16-year-old for Hereford amongst men and my youth team manager at the time alerted me to him and I said go and do it if it’s gonna cost £50,000 or whatever it is.

“Once he got into the team then he never came out and he never came out, but yeah, he’s been a wonderful player.”