Newcastle United’s transfer window has been dominated by one saga: Alexander Isak’s desire to leave the club.
The Swedish striker, once considered the crown jewel of Eddie Howe’s project, has grown increasingly unsettled following Liverpool’s approach earlier in the summer.
He has made his stance abundantly clear, refusing to reintegrate into the squad or even train while continuing to collect his £140,000-a-week wages.
The fallout has left Newcastle in a difficult position.
Isak’s exit hinges on the club securing a replacement first, yet the market for strikers of his calibre is slim. Several targets have already slipped away, with Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, and Benjamin Sesko all ending up elsewhere.
Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson remains of interest, though Aston Villa are pushing hardest for his signature.
Newcastle risk entering the campaign light in the striker position, as was evident in their opening-day draw with Aston Villa, where their attacking play lacked a focal point.
Howe has been backed with reinforcements in other areas, bringing in Jacob Ramsey, Anthony Elanga, Malick Thiaw, and Aaron Ramsdale, but the squad still looks incomplete without a forward capable of leading the line.
The need has pushed Newcastle into considering a bold move for a player reminiscent of former Toon forward Chris Wood.
Newcastle’s pursuit of Jørgen Strand Larsen
According to Liam Keen of the Express & Star, Newcastle are pushing to sign Jørgen Strand Larsen from Wolves this summer.
Intermediaries are already engaged in early conversations over a potential deal, and personal terms are said to have already been agreed with the forward.
Direct talks between the clubs have not yet taken place, but Wolves are understood to value the Norwegian at around £60m.
This figure reflects his growing importance to the Midlands club. Strand Larsen only signed permanently at Molineux on 1 July, following a loan spell from Celta Vigo.
Wolves exercised their option to buy, paying an initial £23m on top of a £2.5m loan fee, and handed the striker a contract until 2029. The Magpies’ interest is firmly rooted in necessity.
Newcastle see Larsen as a ready-made replacement, capable of replicating the contributions once made by Chris Wood at St James’ Park.
How Strand Larsen is like Chris Wood
Strand Larsen’s debut Premier League campaign was highly encouraging.
Double digits in the league and consistent hold-up play that became even more important after Matheus Cunha’s departure to Manchester United.
For Wolves, he has quickly become central to Vítor Pereira’s plans, and there is little appetite to sell.
That resistance is matched by Larsen’s growing profile. Standing at 1.93m, the 25-year-old is developing into a complete forward – able to bring teammates into play, stretch defences, and consistently test goalkeepers.
His record at international level is modest, with three goals in 21 appearances for Norway, but at club level his trajectory has been sharply upward.
With Wolves determined to hold firm, Newcastle’s pursuit looks ambitious, if not opportunistic. The comparisons between Larsen and Wood are not coincidental.
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Premier League – 2024/25
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#
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Chris Wood
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Jorgen Strand Larsen
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Matches Played
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36
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25
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Goals
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20
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14
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Assists
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3
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4
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Shots on Target
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32
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33
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Completed Passes
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315
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295
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Source: FBref
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Both are tall, physical strikers who excel at occupying defenders and converting chances inside the penalty area.
Wood, now 33, was once Newcastle’s emergency signing from Burnley in 2022, brought in mid-season to provide immediate cover during a relegation battle.
He delivered steady returns before moving on to Nottingham Forest, where he enjoyed a remarkable renaissance – scoring 20 goals and registering three assists last season, helping Forest secure European football for the first time since 1996.
Wood’s reputation was built at Burnley, where in 165 appearances, he scored 53 goals, per Transfermarkt.
He was the model of consistency under Sean Dyche, regularly hitting double figures and providing the kind of reliability that kept Burnley competitive in the top flight.
His 2017/18 campaign was especially memorable, as his goals contributed heavily to a seventh-place finish, securing European qualification for Turf Moor. That period established him as one of the league’s most dependable strikers.
It is within this context that Larsen’s potential becomes clearer. In statistical terms, the Norwegian’s 18 goal involvements last season sit close to Wood’s 23.
According to FBref, Larsen’s efficiency stands out: his 61.1% shot-on-target rate eclipses Wood’s 49.2%, and he averaged more shots on target per 90 minutes (1.15 compared to 0.97).
For a team like Newcastle, who crafted several quality chances against Aston Villa but struggled to convert without a natural No. 9, that level of accuracy is significant.
Wood offers a different dimension with the ball at his feet. His 1.28 progressive passes per 90 and an average passing distance of 30.9 metres are in excess of Larsen’s 1.01 and 24.3 respectively, underlining his ability to bring runners into play from deep.
Larsen instead leans into a more modern style. He averages more carries per game (12.0 to 11.4) and more progressive carries (0.59 to 0.43), suggesting he is likelier to drive at defenders with the ball rather than distribute it early.
Defensively, Larsen also looks the more active option, averaging nearly double Wood’s output in both tackles and blocks per 90 minutes. In Howe’s high-intensity pressing system, that kind of front-line industry could prove invaluable.
What Newcastle would be buying in Larsen is essentially a younger, sharper version of Wood – retaining the aerial dominance and penalty-box instinct, while adding greater mobility, pressing energy, and efficiency in front of goal.
He mirrors Wood’s strengths but aligns more closely with the demands of the modern game.
The sticking point, of course, is the price. At £60m, Larsen would represent one of Newcastle’s most expensive signings, second only to Isak.
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Whether his profile justifies that outlay is a question for the club’s hierarchy, but the urgency of the Isak situation may force their hand. Wolves know they hold the leverage, and their determination to keep Larsen will not make negotiations easy.