The Wolves striker has been linked with a move to St James' Park as they look for more firepower
Wolves manager Vitor Pereira and striker Jorgen Strand Larsen
Wolves manager Vitor Pereira and striker Jorgen Strand Larsen
Newcastle United's search for a new striker continues as we approach transfer deadline, with a raft of frontmen linked with a move to St James' Park. Eddie Howe is keen to add more firepower to his squad, having seen Callum Wilson leave and star man Alexander Isak become embroiled in a transfer saga which has dominated the summer.
The Swede is unavailable for selection as he tries to engineer a move away from the club, with Liverpool thought to be weighing up a second bid for the 25-year-old. The Anfield club have seen one offer rejected, which was well below United's valuation of Isak, and have yet to return with an improved bid.
Howe and United's recuitment team are forging on with their transfer targets, with Brentford's Yoane Wissa still high on their wishlist. But with striking options thin on the ground, United have also been linked with a move for Wolves frontman Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The Norwegian centre-forward has just signed for Wolves on a permanent deal after impressing on loan from Celta Viga last season.
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Reports suggest United could make a move for the striker, who is valued at between £35-40m, ahead of the September 1 transfer deadline.
Newcastle were forced to play Anthony Gordon up front in their opening Premier League game at Aston Villa, but despite a positive performance, particularly from the England star and new signing Anthony Elanga, United were unable to break Villa down in a goalless draw.
Strand Larsen coud offer United more of a conventional centre forward, with the 25-year-old scoring 14 goals in all competitions in his first season in English football.
A purple patch of seven goals in eight matches at the end of last season helped Wolves surive in the Premier League in Vitor Pereira, with a brace against Southampton in March standing out.
“Jorgen Strand Larsen was fantastic, not only with his two goals but with the way he helped the team," Pereira said at the time. "Today he felt more confident. I think he was fantastic, and he deserves it.”
Stand Larsen is also willing to play through the pain barrier, with Pereira revealing he had battled on for the Wolves cause with a broken hand against Everton last term.
“I must say something to defend Larsen,” Pereira said of his striker. “Two days before the match he broke his hand – a bone in his hand. He played with protection.
“For a striker, if you don’t have your hands to play, it’s a big problem. We played with him and he tried his best.
“Now, he’s better because he doesn’t feel too much pain. In the game he felt the pain and his focus was on the fracture, not the game.
“He’s been training with the protection and doesn’t feel the pain, so now he can help us. But we cannot crucify the player because he tried to help with this problem.”
It's that commitment, as well as his goalscoring prowess, that will appeal to Howe and Newcastle United.
Whether it turns into concrete transfer interest remains to be seen, but he has already displayed the qualities Howe demands of his players.
He may not be the big name United fans crave, but he could yet turn out to be an astute signing, should Newcastle follow up their interest.