The Magpies saw bids rejected for Jorgen Strand Larsen throughout the summer transfer window
Sean McCormick is a football writer covering Newcastle United for ChronicleLive. After starting his career covering North East sport, he has had a spell working as an editor on the Manchester Evening News. He also writes about darts and boxing. He joined us in 2016.
Jorgen Strand-Larsen of Wolverhampton Wanderers
Newcastle United bid twice for Jorgen Strand-Larsen this summer(Image: Jack Thomas/Getty Images)
As Newcastle's search to sign a new forward in the summer intensified, their pursuit took them in the direction of Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The Norway international forward scored 14 Premier League goals in a struggling Wolves side last season which saw them turn his initial loan deal from Celta Vigo into a £23million permanent stay.
Newcastle saw two bids of £50million and £55million rejected for the 25-year-old forward and, in the end, opted to sign Yoane Wissa for £55million from Brentford, as well as Germany international forward Nick Woltemade for a club record £65million deal on a permanent basis.
It was believed Strand Larsen wanted the move to Tyneside but now Newcastle have secured two forward signings, any chance of the move being revived in the immediate future now appear slim.
There is now talk of Strand Larsen signing a new contract at Wolves and, such is the quirk of the Premier League fixture list, he will get an instant chance to send Newcastle an unwanted reminder of his talents.
The Magpies welcome Wolves to St James' Park on Saturday afternoon as Eddie Howe's side go in search of their first Premier League win of the season.
Howe's big decision on the day will be over whether to start with Woltemade or Wissa up front but Strand Larsen will have extra motivation to prove he should have been the forward the Magpies brought in instead.
Having scored twice in Wolves' 3-2 win over West Ham United in the second round of the Carabao Cup, Strand Larsen missed their 3-2 defeat to Everton at Molineux last time out as speculation around his future continued to swirl.
Speaking after that game, Wolves boss Vitor Pereira said: "He is an important player. Today, if he plays, his quality could give us something else. We are not in a situation to sell our best players."
And stay he did and he will be champing at the bit to be involved at St James' Park to continue his goalscoring form. While it will no longer be a transfer audition for him, he will certainly arrive on Tyneside with a major point to prove.
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