Wolves reject £50M Newcastle bid for Jørgen Strand Larsen as striker remains off-limits

Wolverhampton Wanderers have firmly rejected a £50 million offer from Newcastle United for striker Jørgen Strand Larsen, underlining their commitment to retaining the Norwegian forward.

Wolves' firm stance

Despite Newcastle's substantial offer, Wolves have made it clear that Strand Larsen is not for sale, reports Liam Keen of the Express & Star. The 25-year-old only completed a permanent move to Molineux in July after spending the 2024/25 season on loan in the West Midlands. This would be a successful spell with him scoring 14 goals in 35 appearances in the Premier League. His performances have made him invaluable to the team following the departure of several attacking players.

Newcastle's striker search

Newcastle's pursuit of Strand Larsen comes amid a striker crisis, with Alexander Isak sidelined following a failed £110 million move to Liverpool and subsequent refusal to play. Additionally, Callum Wilson's contract was not renewed, leaving the Magpies with very limited attacking options. Their search for reinforcements has also seen them rejected by Hugo Ekitike.

Importance of Strand Larsen at Wolves

Strand Larsen has quickly become a key figure for Wolves, providing not only goals but tactical versatility. His ability to hold up play, link attack and midfield, and press defenders makes him central to Vítor Pereira's 3-4-2-1 system. Losing him would be a disaster for Wolves' attack and would only leave one recognised centre forward in the squad, should Fabio Silva's move to Borussia Dortmund go through. With very little time left in the transfer window, it makes sense for Wolves that they would refuse to entertain Newcastle's offer.

Wolves' rejection of Newcastle's offer underscores their intent to retain key players and try to maintain some competitive stability. As the transfer window nears closing, Newcastle may have to explore alternative options to address their striker crisis.