Newcastle United seem to have received a boost in their pursuit of Jorgen Strand Larsen, with Wolves closing in on a deal for Genk’s Tolu Arokodare. The Magpies are aiming to sign two strikers before the transfer deadline on Monday. They’ve already secured their first addition, with Nick Woltemade completing his £69m move from VfB Stuttgart. Yoane Wissa of Brentford has been a long-term target for Newcastle, but after some hurdles, Strand Larsen has emerged as their latest forward option, despite having two bids rejected this week. While it’s been reported that Wolves would turn down any third offer over £55m for the Norwegian striker, Newcastle still have two days to make a compelling case.
Meanwhile, Wolves may be preparing for Strand Larsen’s potential departure, as Arokodare is set to undergo a medical on Saturday. The 24-year-old is moving from Genk for €27m (£23.3m), and his arrival could pave the way for Strand Larsen’s move to Newcastle. While an agreement between the two Premier League clubs is still required, both have until 7pm on Monday to finalize the deal.
Wolves face Everton at Molineux on Saturday, and Strand Larsen has been left out of the matchday squad due to a minor injury. In a press conference on Friday, Wolves manager Vitor Pereira mentioned that the striker’s absence was due to the injury, but also emphasized that Strand Larsen’s focus remains on the team despite ongoing transfer speculation.
Pereira stated, “Jorgen is our player, working hard, and has a great personality. He’s dealing with a small injury, but I hope he can play tomorrow. Right now, we can’t lose energy over things we can’t control. We need to focus on the game.” He added that he expects Strand Larsen to stay unaffected by the transfer rumors given his strong character.
