Championship club owner makes SHOCK claim on valuation of Newcastle United target

Controversial Hull City owner Assem Allam has broken his silence regarding rumours of a January exit for Newcastle United-linked Jarrod Bowen.
HULL, ENGLAND - MAY 09:  Hull City owner Assem Allam applauds the players during the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Burnley at KC Stadium on May 9, 2015 in Hull, England.  (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)HULL, ENGLAND - MAY 09:  Hull City owner Assem Allam applauds the players during the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Burnley at KC Stadium on May 9, 2015 in Hull, England.  (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
HULL, ENGLAND - MAY 09: Hull City owner Assem Allam applauds the players during the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Burnley at KC Stadium on May 9, 2015 in Hull, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)

Allam admits he’s hopeful of hanging on to Bowen in the winter window, despite a number of Premier League clubs registering an interest.

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is a massive fan of the former Hereford forward, who he plucked from non-league football while he was Tigers boss under Allam.

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When asked whether he thinks Bowen will stay in January, Allam told the Hull Daily Mail: “I am hopeful. We resisted a transfer six months ago, we will hope that we will be successful in keeping Jarrod again because my advice to Jarrod or a good player is don’t move from the Championship to be on the bench in the Premier League. That is a killer, don’t do that. Take your time, there is no rush. Take your time, make you sure you move from here to the first team, not to be on the bench.”

The rumoured price tag of around £20million was a stumbling block for Bruce in the summer and it could prove to be again.

When asked about what kind of cash it would take to prise Bowen away, Allam said it was not about the money.

“The money is not in my mind, it is principles rather than money,” he said.

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“We need to keep him and the desire to keep Jarrod and players like Jarrod is a point of principle and not related to the money.

“Depends on what the definition of big (bid) is. I would not sell him for £20 million. I don’t want to put labels on the price tag of players. He is more important than £20 million for us.

“As a person, he is very good, not only as a player. He is good for the team, good for the squad, a very well-mannered person, so he has very good characteristics and he has scored 13 goals. Do you know we are the third highest scorers in the Championship? With two above us. We have 29 goals and the two above us have 31 and 35. We are one of three top scorers of the 24.”