Wolves have rejected an improved £55million offer from Newcastle for striker Jorgen Strand-Larsen.
Daily Mail Sport can reveal that Newcastle’s new bid landed on Tuesday evening – just as the Norwegian was scoring twice to clinch a 3-2 Carabao Cup win over West Ham – but it was swiftly rebuffed by the Molineux hierarchy, just one day on from rejecting an opening approach of £50m.
It remains likely that the Magpies will return with a third offer for Strand-Larsen as their summer-long search for a striker continues, but they will have a limit on their valuation of a player who only cost Wolves £23m when his transfer from Celta Vigo was made permanent this summer.
The 25-year-old is understood to be keen on a switch to Tyneside and, with Eddie Howe and recruitment staff said to be big admirers, he has moved to the top of their shortlist in recent days. Their need for reinforcement has become all the more pressing with Anthony Gordon, who has deputised at centre-forward so far this season, set to serve a three-game ban after his red card in Monday’s 3-2 defeat by Liverpool.
A deal for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa remains alive and talks continued on Tuesday, but there is frustration that the move has been stuck for more than three weeks. Sources believe progress is still possible before the weekend as the Bees consider alternatives, including Dortmund’s Max Beier.
Newcastle’s continued pursuit of both Strand-Larsen and Wissa will give Liverpool hope of a renewed approach for Alexander Isak, who remains on strike and refusing to train or play for the Magpies.
Newcastle’s bid for Jorgen Strand Larsen (left), who scored twice on Tuesday, has been rejected
Eddie Howe is keen to bring in the Wolves forward, with Newcastle in need of reinforcements
Liverpool
Arsenal
*18+, excludes NI. Terms and conditions apply
Daily Mail Sport revealed on Monday that secret talks had taken place after co-owner Jamie Reuben and a PIF delegation visited the striker’s Northumberland home in the hours before the Liverpool game. However, their attempts to persuade Isak to return to Howe’s squad were thought to be met with continued resistance by the Swede, who is determined to force a move to Anfield.
The ball is now in Newcastle’s court as to the next move – keep the striker and hope he has a change of heart after September 1, or negotiate a British record deal with the Premier League champions.
If the latter, they would need at least one striker – if not two – to arrive in the coming days before Monday’s deadline. Strand-Larsen and Wissa have always been seen as replacements for Callum Wilson, and not Isak, but if both deals progressed at the same time, it would leave Newcastle with a decision to make as to how to proceed in the best interests of the club. There is a feeling among some close to the club that Isak’s situation is beyond repair and a sale is best for all parties.
