Newcastle United are aiming to end the window on a high with the arrival of Jorgen Strand Larsen
Jorgen Strand Larsen of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Dan Burn of Newcastle United battle for the ball
Jorgen Strand Larsen of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Dan Burn of Newcastle United battle for the ball
Jorgen Strand Larsen has made it clear he'd like to work with Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe.
In a week that has been dominated by talks between the Norwegian international and the Magpies, who are desperate to seal a deal for a striker before deadline day, the enthusiasm of Larsen has been "refreshing" by insiders at St James' Park.
Of course, the 25-year-old has no control on his transfer fee with bids of £50m and £55m rejected and a third offer now in the works between Newcastle and Wolves.
If Howe gets his way, Larsen will be here before the end of the window with the striker keen to make the move happen.
What are Newcastle United getting for £60m?
At 6ft 4in the Norway international can offer a snarling presence in Newcastle's attack and the plan is to play to the 25-year-old's strength.
He netted 14 goals last season and they all came from open play as he turned an initial loan deal from Celta Vigo into a permanent £23m switch.
The fact that the figures are now being quoted at more than double for Larsen, and close to a club record of the £63m Newcastle paid for Alexander Isak have raised eyebrows.
But given that Larsen's performances last season kept Wolves afloat in the Premier League, he has arguably proven he can handle life in the top-flight.
Is Larsen a replacement for Alexander Isak?
The answer is an emphatic no, Larsen is wanted to either play alongside Isak if he stays or operate with another incoming striker.
Insiders have stated that Larsen is very much the man who comes in to take over from Callum Wilson, but whether Newcastle give him the vacant number 9 shirt remains to be seen.
Larsen wore that number at Wolves and the 9 at Molineux is deemed a heavy shirt given club legend Steve Bull, who scored 306 goals for Wanderers, made it his own.
What now for Isak?
The Sweden striker remains at home on Tyneside, training alone in the afternoons, but waiting for Liverpool to put in a new bid.
Despite talks at the striker's home this week with club chiefs, Isak is adamant that he wants to go and sources say nothing has changed since last week.
Was Larsen's brace his farewell present to Wolves?
Wolves beat West Ham last night in a 3-2 win in the League Cup after coming off the bench to sink the Hammers.
Larsen said: "It’s always special. Every minute since I came to the club has been extremely special. I have to say thanks to them and it’s important that they are behind our backs when things are going bad too, because we need that backing."
Whether it was farewell remains to be seen for the 25-year-old.
Is this a panic buy?
Eddie Howe doesn't do panic buys and has usually been astute in the transfer market. Newcastle have scoured the data and on trips to Holland, where he played for Groningen, and Spain, during his Celta Vigo days, the Magpies.
Questions were raised when Newcastle paid £63m for Isak while Sandro Tonali's £55m fee was also under the microscope, not least during a betting probe, but United have a tag of good operators in the window.
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