Southampton and Newcastle target £20m Hull forward Jarrod Bowen ahead of January window

Southampton and Newcastle United are both continuing to keep tabs on Hull City’s £20million-rated hitman Jarrod Bowen.

Bowen, 22, has scored four goals in seven appearances so far this season for the Tigers, who could struggle to keep hold of him in January.

He was named in the Championship Team of the Season last term after finishing the campaign as Hull’s leading scorer with 22 goals to his name.

Hull resisted all temptation to cash in on the player that they plucked out of non-league football with Hereford United four years ago.

Saints and Newcastle have both had scouts checking him out in the opening weeks of the new season who will be impressed with what they have seen.

The Tigers will hold out for their full asking price which they hope will be enough to put off any potential suitors.

Hull are currently 20th in the Championship after winning just one of their opening six games of the 2019/20 campaign.

And they will be determined to get back to winning ways after the international break when they return to action.

Next up for Grant McCann’s team is Wigan, who are currently a point and two places further back than the Tigers.

McCann defended Bowen last week after the forward was booked for simulation during the 1-1 draw with Millwall.

“I had a player in the changing room after the game that was really disappointed in Jarrod Bowen for being booked for diving,” McCann said. “That’ll never be associated with my players.

“Watching it back, he was stood on. You always get a better indication of what’s happened when opposition players don’t even react – Millwall’s players walked away expecting a free-kick to be given to us.

“I brought Jarrod in to see the referee just to tell him that he should do his homework a wee bit more on players.

“He’s not a player who dives. There’s no two ways about that. He’s one of the best wide players in the league and when he goes past someone one-v-one he isn’t going to fall. I was really disappointed with that.”

source: express.co.uk