NEWCASTLE UNITED will make a new move for Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen in an attempt to finally secure an attacking breakthrough this summer.
Newcastle’s initial bid for the 25-year-old, which is understood to have been worth around £50m, was rejected by the Molineux hierarchy yesterday.
However, the tone of discussions between the two clubs was reasonably positive and there is a feeling among senior officials on Tyneside that a deal is achievable.
The Magpies are willing to increase their initial offer slightly, potentially with the inclusion of further add-ons as part of the deal, and if their total package gets to around £60m, there is an expectation that Wolves will agree to the Norwegian’s departure.
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Newcastle sources suggest a deal for Strand Larsen is now regarded as much more attainable than an agreement over Yoane Wissa, with Brentford’s ownership group having refused to budge at all on their asking price for the 28-year-old, who has been refusing to train as he attempts to force through a move to St James’ Park.
Strand Larsen is aware of Newcastle’s mounting interest, and would like the chance to move to Tyneside and experience Champions League football, but he has continued to train professionally and was part of the Wolves side that lost at Bournemouth at the weekend.
Wolves' view on Strand Larsen will be influenced by their ongoing attempts to secure a new forward of their own. They are in talks with Getafe over a potential €20m deal for Nigerian forward Christantus Uche, and a breakthrough in those discussions could have a domino effect with Strand Larsen.
Newcastle’s attempts to sign Strand Larsen are not linked to Alexander Isak’s current situation, with the former Groningen and Celta Vigo forward instead seen as a replacement, and upgrade, on Callum Wilson, who left in the summer.
The Magpies’ need for a new striker was graphically illustrated last night when their current makeshift number nine, Anthony Gordon, was sent off during the 3-2 defeat to Liverpool, earning him an automatic three-match ban.
While Will Osula scored his first goal of the season after coming off the substitutes’ bench, Eddie Howe does not yet feel the Danish 22-year-old is ready to lead the line on a regular basis.
Ideally, Newcastle would like to have Strand Larsen in place ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leeds United. As things stand, the Magpies would either have to start with Osula at Elland Road or play winger Anthony Elanga as their latest makeshift centre-forward.
The Magpies are hoping to have categorically resolved the Isak situation by the end of the week, although given that the Swede has not been training with the first-team group for more than a month now, he would be unlikely to start against Leeds no matter what happens in the next few days.
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