Jørgen Strand Larsen’s agent has hit out at the British media for creating unnecessary drama around his move to Crystal Palace.
VG have an interview with the agent, Tore Pedersen, today. He discusses various aspects of the big transfer, including the influence from the media.
Larsen completed a €49.7m move to Crystal Palace on deadline day of the January transfer window. It was a move long in the making, with the striker seemingly determined to leave Wolves after a year.
He impressed at Molineux last season during a loan deal from Celta Vigo that was eventually made permanent for €27m. He was then heavily linked with a move away in the summer, with Newcastle trying for him as a replacement for Alexander Isak.
That never happened, much to Larsen’s frustration, but the speculation picked up again in January. This time it was Crystal Palace who eventually pulled to the front of the queue.
They wanted a replacement for Jean-Philippe Mateta, who appeared to be destined for a move to Italy. That, though, was cancelled late on over concerns about a knee injury.
Confusing reports over Crystal Palace transfer
Crystal Palace and Wolves agreed a fee for Jørgen Strand Larsen at the end of the window
Crystal Palace and Wolves agreed a fee for Jørgen Strand Larsen at the end of the window
The situation led to a slew of confusing reports. At one point, Larsen was simultaneously on the verge of joining Crystal Palace while they were also pulling out of the deal because of the situation with Mateta.
In the end, he ended up joining on deadline day, signing his deal just an hour before the window closed. Pedersen was key to that happening but wasn’t impressed by the media adding to the drama.
“That’s what I think is a bad thing. People report things too early,” he said.
“It’s a fight to win the news. I miss the old days, when you called a press conference and no one knew about it, that’s not possible anymore.
“There were negotiations between the clubs, and then there are some who report too early. Things take time – and that’s why they’re called negotiations.”
Crystal Palace grew stronger in race
Crystal Palace
Pedersen also explained he’d had confidence a January move would happen, but that it would be difficult.
“I was pretty sure that Jørgen would leave Wolves in the winter window, but I was also pretty sure that it would happen at the end,” the agent explained.
“The selling club wants the most, the buying club wants to pay the least. When you are in the middle of a window with a player who has a longer contract, it takes time.”
Pedersen went on to say that as time went on, Crystal Palace increasingly became the likeliest destination.