Newcastle linked with £100m star, Eddie Howe now admits he's a fan of 'really dangerous' ace

With Newcastle United frequently mentioned as a potential destination, Eddie Howe’s public admiration for the Premier League hitman will serve only to pour fuel on the pyre.

Newcastle’s interest, meanwhile, is nothing new.

By his own admission, one of the more underrated stars of English football felt that a move to St James’ Park was close to completion nearly five years ago. But with Hull City demanding £20 million for a youngster with only a few minutes of top-flight experience, it was West Ham instead who opted to take a punt on Jarrod Bowen.

And what a decision that has turned out to be.

Flash forward to November 2024 – the month in which Bowen finally opened his England account – and it is understood that West Ham’s valuation of the winger-turned-striker is so high that even a bid of £100 million might not have been enough over the summer.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe speaks out on West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen

TBR understands that The Hammers told Bowen’s suitors – including London rivals Tottenham – that their free-scoring talisman would be going nowhere unless an offer arrived in the nine-figure range.

Still, that has not stopped the rumour mill from turning. Newcastle were linked again a few weeks ago, via TEAMtalk.

And with Magpies boss Eddie Howe going public with his praise ahead of Monday’s clash with West Ham on Tyneside, it can be confirmed now that Bowen does have at least one admirer amongst the big cheeses at Newcastle.

“They are always difficult games against West Ham,” Howe begins, speaking during his Friday press conference. “They always have been for us. Historically, they are a team of very good players.

“In the summer, they recruited well. I think they have got a good squad, they’ve got some really dangerous players especially in the frontline.

“Obviously, it was interesting watching Jarrod Bowen score for England. He is always a goal threat. They’ve got some attacking players that we respect and we are going to have to get our structures right to keep them quiet.”

Jarrod Bowen thought he was signing for Newcastle in 2020

Bowen scored 16 goals and provided six assists during his most prolific Premier League season yet last term. With only three on the board so far in 2024/25, however, the tireless 27-year-old is one of many who’s form appears to have been stunted by Julen Lopetegui’s stupefying tactics.

TBR understands that West Ham have identified former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic as their number one pick should the time come to move on from Lopetegui.

Terzic, who guided Dortmund to the Champions League final as recently as May, once worked as an assistant to Slaven Bilic in the Hammers dugout.

A departure back in 2017, however, meant Terzic was long gone by the time Bowen arrived.

“On deadline day, I was sure I was going to Newcastle because of Steve Bruce,” Bowen told The Chronicle back in 2020, explaining how his move to the Hammers came about.

“I was even looking at houses, thinking it was a done deal. But then Newcastle backed out over the fee. Hull wanted £14 million plus £6 million in add-ons, which included an England call-up – a milestone I didn’t see happening at the time.

“I assumed I’d stay at Hull after that. I went to training thinking nothing would change, but then I was told Hull had accepted a bid from West Ham. It was a total surprise.”

Now, with West Ham demanding a huge fee and Bowen under contract until 2030, it would be an even greater ‘surprise’ if Newcastle were to finally get their man five years on.