Wolves braced for Jørgen Strand Larsen bid from Crystal Palace

James Ward-Prowse seals loan move to Burnley

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Jorgen Strand Larsen. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

Wolves are braced for a bid totalling £50m for Jørgen Strand Larsen from Crystal Palace. The Norway striker is expected to exit in this window, and Palace are in advanced discussions to sign him.

The agent Jorge Mendes is leading negotiations on behalf of Wolves, with an initial £45m, plus £5m in add-ons, mooted. It remains to be seen whether rivals would move to match or exceed that offer; Leeds are viewed as the most serious competition but Palace are in pole position.

Leeds had a bid of about £40m rejected for the 25-year-old this month, and Nottingham Forest, also hunting an experienced striker, have also been monitoring him.

In the summer Strand Larsen was the subject of several bids from Newcastle totalling £55m but Wolves rejected those. The Premier League’s bottom club recognise Strand Larsen’s value will plummet in the event of relegation.

Strand Larsen signed permanently for Wolves in a £23m deal last summer after scoring 14 goals during a loan from Celta Vigo. In September he signed a contract extension to 2030 but has since struggled and a sale, at the right price, would benefit all parties.

Palace pushing through a deal for Strand Larsen is expected to create a domino effect at Selhurst Park and beyond. Jean-Philippe Mateta wants to leave Palace, with Forest lodging a £35m bid. Palace will not allow Mateta to depart without signing a replacement.

Elsewhere, Burnley have signed James Ward-Prowse on loan from their relegation rivals West Ham. The 31-year-old former Southampton midfielder has not played a minute since Nuno Espírito Santo succeeded Graham Potter in September.

“As soon as I heard of Burnley’s interest and spoke to the manager [Scott Parker], I knew this loan spell was just what I needed,” said Ward-Prowse. “There’s a big battle between now and the end of the season, but I’m going to relish every moment.”

Guardian