Wolves Open to Selling Jorgen Strand Larsen Amid Forest Interest
Wolverhampton Wanderers are considering the sale of striker Jorgen Strand Larsen this month, following interest from Nottingham Forest.
The Premier League's bottom team acknowledges that parting ways with the 25-year-old may be beneficial for all involved, provided the right deal materializes.
This potential transfer to the City Ground comes despite Forest also fighting to avoid relegation.
Nottingham Forest, who are missing last season's top scorer Chris Wood, are one of several clubs evaluating Strand Larsen as a viable option. Wood has been sidelined with a knee injury since October and underwent surgery just before Christmas, with a return date still uncertain.
West Ham's interest in Strand Larsen has diminished after they were quoted £40 million for the player, leading them to acquire Valentin Castellanos and Pablo Felipe instead. Meanwhile, Newcastle United's priorities have shifted after a failed £55 million bid last summer, resulting in their signing of Nick Woltemade.
Under manager Sean Dyche, Nottingham Forest is currently seven points clear of the relegation zone and 15 points ahead of Wolves, following their 2-1 victory over West Ham on Tuesday.
Arnaud Kalimuendo, a summer signing from Rennes, is expected to join Eintracht Frankfurt on loan with an option to buy, leaving Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi as the only strikers at the club.
Strand Larsen has faced criticism from some Wolves fans this season, having scored only one goal in the Premier League. This dissatisfaction is part of the reason Wolves are contemplating allowing the Norway international to depart, even though he made his loan from Celta Vigo permanent last July for £23 million.
Despite the criticism, Strand Larsen is respected within the club for his leadership qualities. He earned praise for his professional response to Newcastle's interest and bids, which led to a five-year contract awarded in September after a promising debut season where he scored 14 goals, helping Wolves secure a 16th-place finish.
The likelihood of relegation for Wolves is a significant factor in Strand Larsen's future. They recently secured their first Premier League win of the season last Saturday, triumphing over West Ham 3-0 after 20 attempts.
It is unlikely that Strand Larsen would remain at Molineux if the club were to be relegated to the Championship, and a January sale could yield a higher transfer fee than in the summer.
Additionally, midfielder Joao Gomes has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace, although Wolves are hesitant to part with him.
Manager Rob Edwards expressed openness regarding Strand Larsen's future, especially as he has been on the bench for the past three matches. “I haven’t said that,” Edwards remarked before Wednesday’s match against Everton. “There will be interest in a number of our players, especially given our current position, and we have some really good players.”
He added, “We’re under no pressure to make any moves if we don’t believe it’s right for the club. None of us want to weaken the team in this window or any future window. We always aim to be in a stronger position.”