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Tottenham Hotspur: Alasdair Gold slams board’s decision not to sign Jarrod Bowen in 2019

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Tottenham Hotspur journalist Alasdair Gold has expressed his annoyance that the club didn’t buy Jarrod Bowen when they had the chance.

The 24-year-old has cut an impressive figure at West Ham after his move to east London in 2020, scoring 10 goals and chipping in with 13 assists in his 64 appearances, but things could have been a lot different if Tottenham had got their way.

Bowen was someone who was reportedly a target for Tottenham back in the January transfer window of 2019 as a result of the incredible numbers he posted in the Championship at Hull City. However, a move didn’t materialise, with the club instead opting for Leeds United’s Jack Clarke that summer, who has gone on to make just four appearances for the club.

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Speaking on the latest edition of Gold and Guest talk Tottenham ahead of Tottenham’s game this weekend against Bowen’s West Ham United, Gold reflected on the decision not to sign him and discussed his surprise that the club ultimately didn’t pull the trigger on the deal:

“I’m a big Jarrod Bowen fan as well, I still look back to the decision to go for Jack Clarke over him and kind of scratch my head completely. And that’s no disrespect to Jack – Jack Clarke could still develop, get minutes somewhere and go on to be a very good young player.

“But if you look at it purely on paper and the impact of the two players, albeit ones of different ages, it looks like a no-brainer decision that should have been made. Because I think Jarrod Bowen has shown that he’s a very good Premier League player.”

TIF Thoughts on Alasdair Gold’s comments on Jarrod Bowen and Jack Clarke at Tottenham Hotspur…

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It certainly does come across as a strange decision in hindsight, especially when you consider that at the time, Clarke was still pretty much a fringe player at Elland Road, having only started four times in the league at the time he was signed.

Whilst Clarke was a young player and could have been bought for his supposed potential, it was perhaps more likely that Bowen was someone who could make a telling impact on the side, as he has done with the Hammers.

And given how much importance is being placed on Tottenham’s present and desire to get into the top four or win a trophy, you can understand why Gold would be frustrated with the club’s decision not to go with Bowen instead of Clarke.

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Freelance sports journalist & broadcaster.