Newcastle United have been pursuing Jorgen Strand Larsen, but there has now been a shock development.
Newcastle have made two bids for Strand Larsen, failing with a £50 million and £55 million offer.
It had been claimed that Newcastle would return with a third.
But today, Wolves have held very firm, and reiterated that Jorgen Strand Larsen is not for sale. This, despite Strand Larsen politely informing Jeff Shi that he wants the move to Newcastle.
Potentially, this firm stance from Wolves may have now forced Newcastle to change their plans.
Because it appears the Magpies have now set their sights on an alternative.
Jorge Mendes has been pushing for Newcastle to land Jorgen Strand Larsen
It has been claimed this evening by the Daily Mail that Newcastle are now closing in on Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade, in what is described as a ‘shock development’.
Woltemade had been linked with a move to Bayern Munich earlier in the window.
But it appears Newcastle have now taken positive steps to signing the 23-year-old, amid their struggles to land Strand Larsen.
Interestingly, it’s stated that Newcastle had been led to believe that a move for Strand Larsen would be possible, which prompted them to make two bids. But Wolves’ firm stance appears to have pushed them away.
And, in a development that will not go down to well with Wolves fans, it’s stated that Jorge Mendes had actually given Newcastle encouragement in their pursuit of the Norwegian.
Mendes, of course, is a close associate of Wolves and has been working to get players into Molineux this summer.
But Newcastle were ‘talking to the wrong person’, with Wolves adamant Strand Larsen is going nowhere – ‘there is an absolute resolve not to sell the 25-year-old this window’.
- READ MORE: Who is Jorgen Strand Larsen? Meet the Wolves striker who has been compared to Erling Haaland
Wolves need to be careful with Mendes after shock claim
This is a really bold claim, and one that is bound to go down poorly with the Wolves fanbase.
Mendes is back in the picture at Wolves after the restructure, and he is supposed to be helping the club.
It is vital for all involved in the recruitment at Molineux to be pulling in the same direction.
But this sounds like Mendes has been trying to act in his own interests.
And this comes after it was suggested Christantus Uche and his team didn’t like the way Mendes acted in trying to facilitate a move for him to Wolves from Getafe.
It is perplexing that Mendes would be giving encouragement to Newcastle to sign Strand Larsen, if Shi and others are adamant he will not be sold.
Hopefully he is not going behind the backs of Shi and Wolves and trying to instigate something that is not in the interests of the club.