Jorgen Strand Larsen is a Wolves player – and the club have made an interesting revelation about their new striker.
The Norway international has signed for Wanderers on an initial loan basis. But the move will become permanent for around £25 million if he makes a certain number of appearances.
Strand Larsen arrives at Molineux having just scored 13 goals in La Liga in 2023/24. Supporters are optimistic that he will hit the ground running in English football.
Gary O’Neil has wanted a new centre-forward all year, and did try to bring in Armando Broja on loan back in January. But the club’s financial predicament was concerning back then.
Wolves have been able to get Strand Larsen – and it turns out he has been on the club’s radar for quite some time.
Wolves say Jorgen Strand Larsen has been known to them since 2018
Strand Larsen joining Wolves seemed to come out of the blue.
There had not been any previous reports of interest in him until last week, when news dropped that Wolves had entered into advanced talks with Celta Vigo.
Despite the somewhat surprising nature of this transfer, Strand Larsen is actually someone Wolves have known about for years.
The club released a scouting report for fans to sink their teeth into on Wednesday evening, and in there they say they first became aware of Strand Larsen around six years ago. It is also suggested the club considered actually signing him while he was still at Groningen.
They say (via Wolves official): “Wolves’ first scouting report on Strand Larsen was dated back to 2018 when the striker was breaking through at Sarpsborg, and the club has been tracking his progress ever since.
“During the coming years, he has shown many aspects to his game that the scouts had seen before, with Wolves even considering signing him while he was playing for Groningen.
“Wolves’ head of scouting and the recruitment team continued to follow him closely, and went to watch the striker in person.
“The team kept in constant contact with the players’ representatives over the seasons and believing he fit the bill on the characteristics both O’Neil and Matt Hobbs had outlined, felt now was the right time to bring the Norwegian to Molineux.
“His performances at the start of last season promoted Hobbs, O’Neil and the recruitment team to make the 24-year-old the club’s number one target at centre-forward ahead of the 2024/25 season.”
Strand Larsen was breaking through at Dutch club Groningen in 2020 and stayed for two seasons before heading to Celta Vigo.
Strand Larsen was clearly a player Wolves really liked
It’s really interested to learn that Wolves did actually consider moving for Strand Larsen while he was still at Groningen, and have had him on their radar as far back as 2018.
One wonders just how many other players Wolves have followed for as long.
Seemingly, it has always just been a question of timing for Wolves with Strand Larsen. O’Neil desperately wanted a new centre-forward, and the Norwegian banged in 13 goals in La Liga last term.
He is a player with mobility, good link-up play and an eye for goal, and he also apparently works tirelessly. So he is very much an O’Neil-type player.
Obviously Sasa Kalajdzic is out injured until later this year, and it’s highly likely Fabio Silva will be leaving. So it made complete sense for Wolves to finally act on their interest in Strand Larsen.