Liverpool's Alexander Isak breakthrough?! £50m Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen tells club he wants Magpies move after flurry of bids as Eddie Howe seeks replacement for wantaway Sweden international

Newcastle, eager to bolster their attacking options, have already tested Wolves’ resolve. Two hefty offers, one worth £50 million ($67.5m) and another £55m ($74m), were swiftly turned down. Wolves’ stance remains firm: Strand Larsen is not for sale.

But Strand Larsen’s desire to join Newcastle is not just about the lure of St James’ Park. It also links directly to the future of Isak, who has grown restless and wants out. He has been training away from the main squad after making it clear he wishes to leave. Liverpool, in need of a marquee striker, have already made their move with a formal bid, and the Swedish forward is keen on the switch. Meanwhile, Newcastle maintain that their pursuit of Larsen is part of their hunt for a long-term replacement for Callum Wilson, who departed at the end of his contract earlier this summer and is not linked with the future of Isak. 

Wolves believe that losing Larsen now would leave them dangerously short in attack. They are still in the market for another forward, but that signing is supposed to complement Larsen, not replace him. Selling him would mean scrambling for two strikers in the dying hours of the window, with no guarantees of securing quality.

Newcastle's search for a striker has been a nightmare. Hugo Ekitike was snapped up by Liverpool, Benjamin Sesko chose Manchester United, while both Joao Pedro and Liam Delap ended up at Chelsea. That left Newcastle scrambling, and Strand Larsen emerged as their prime target. But Wolves’ refusal to even entertain a third bid has left Newcastle at an impasse. If they continue to hold firm, Newcastle may struggle to sanction Isak’s departure without first lining up a direct replacement.