Former Newcastle manager makes shocking admission regarding 'nailed on' move that fell through

Former Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce admitted that West Ham United winger Jarrod Bowen was 'parked up' at Wetherby Services - but the club were not able to get the deal 'over the line'.

Bowen was tearing up the Championship for Hull City in January, 2020, with multiple Premier League clubs hoping to get the Englishman to put pen to paper.

Newcastle came agonisingly close to having Bowen join the club, only for those higher up to dig their heels in regarding the fee they would have to pay for a player who had never played in the Premier League.

In the end, West Ham paid the £14m plus £6m add-ons. Since joining the Hammers, Bowen has scored 59 goals for the club and scored the goal that won the the Europa Conference League final last season.

Bowen also made his international debut in 2022 and has gone on to earn seven caps for the Three Lions.

Image: Sky Sports

Jarrod Bowen, one that got away.

Wetherby Services is not just a place for a quick stop to Greggs before heading up the A1, it's also a place for heartbreak as far as Bruce, Bowen and Newcastle fans are concerned.

"I've got a big affinity with him," Bruce told talkSPORT.

"I signed Jarrod at Hull for £50,000 a long time ago when he was 16 so I knew all about him.

"I had him parked up at Wetherby Services trying to take him to Newcastle and couldn't get it over the line and he went to West Ham. One that got away."

Bowen has had a fantastic season for West Ham, scoring 15 goals in 31 Premier League games as well as bagging five assists.

Newcastle left to rue what could have been

"This kid scores goals. Even at Hull, he scored 50 goals before he got his move to West Ham. Bruce added.

"He's got a knack of scoring a goal where maybe he has not got the natural flair of the other ones you're talking about, but he's very effective.

How would you back against him?"

This definitely feels like a massive opportunity missed, Bowen has been such an important player for West Ham since joining. Newcastle are also desperate for a quality right-winger and will most likely be dipping into the transfer market this summer to find one.