Wolves rebuff £55m Newcastle bid as Strand Larsen saga intensifies

Wolverhampton Wanderers have turned down a second bid from Newcastle United worth £55 million for striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, underlining their determination to keep hold of their talisman as the transfer deadline looms.

The Norway international only joined Wolves permanently from Celta Vigo this summer for £23m, but his impact has been immediate. On Tuesday night, he came off the bench to score twice in the final minutes of a dramatic 3-2 EFL Cup win over West Ham, once again showcasing his value to Vitor Pereira’s side.

Newcastle’s renewed approach comes amid growing uncertainty over Alexander Isak, who is attempting to push through a move to Liverpool. Eddie Howe’s side have been scouring the market for reinforcements, with failed pursuits of Brentford’s Yoane Wissa — rejected at £40m — and Porto’s Samu Aghehowa, whose £60m valuation remains a stumbling block.

For Wolves, the timing could not be worse. With the transfer window closing on Monday, the club fear losing their most reliable source of goals without any realistic chance of sourcing a replacement. Strand Larsen’s 14-goal haul in the Premier League last season was central to Wolves’ survival bid, and the 25-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the team’s most important players.

Manager Pereira admitted after the West Ham win that “every player has a price” but insisted he wants the striker to stay. “If it’s my decision, of course he stays. He is very important for us,” said the Portuguese coach, who praised Larsen’s professionalism and willingness to play despite the speculation.

For Newcastle, the dilemma is clear: how far are they willing to go? Wolves have already rejected £50m and £55m, but with Isak unsettled and alternatives proving elusive, the Magpies may be forced into testing Wolves’ resolve with an even higher bid in the final days of the window.

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