Wolves reject £55m Newcastle bid for Strand Larsen

Wolves have rejected a second Newcastle bid for striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.

The Magpies returned with a £55m offer after a £50m approach was turned down earlier this week.

Wolves do not want to sell the Norway international, firstly because of how little time they would have to find a replacement, with the transfer window closing on Monday, and also because of how valuable Strand Larsen is to their survival chances.

Newcastle are looking for fresh firepower with Alexander Isak trying to engineer a move to Liverpool - the Sweden forward is in a stand-off with the Magpies and yet to play this season.

Strand Larsen, who only made his loan move from Celta Vigo permanent for £23m this summer, came off the bench to score twice in the final eight minutes as Wolves beat West Ham 3-2 in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

Afterwards, boss Vitor Pereira refused to rule out a sale, even though he wants to keep the forward.

He said: "Football is football and every player has a price, even [Lionel] Messi or Cristiano [Ronaldo]. I understand football but for me it's very important for us. We will see what happens.

"If it's my decision, of course [he stays]. He is a very important player."

Newcastle is an attractive option for Strand Larsen, who scored 14 Premier League goals last season, but he has remained professional and Pereira believes the 25-year-old will not force a move.

He said: "I know a lot of players in my career in this situation and they have asked me not to play but he wants to play every time. He wants to help the team.

"In the last seven or eight months I am with him, I know him very well. He will never force. Of course we know football is football. You must be ready for everything but I want to keep the best players and this kind of player with us."