This is definitely one of the more puzzling deals in the Premier League
Crystal Palace are closing in on a £45m deal to sign Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen. Although there has been no official bid, talks are understood to have advanced and the move could be completed before the winter window closes on 2 February.
But this is definitely one of the more puzzling deals in the Premier League. Why are Palace paying £45m for a striker who does not score goals?
Strand Larsen has scored only once in 21 league appearances this season, a penalty against Burnley in October. The only other times he has found the net in all competitions were a hat-trick against League Two side Shrewsbury in the FA Cup in January, and then two goals against West Ham in the Carabao Cup back in August.
And not that Strand Larsen is not getting regular minutes. He is. He has started 14 league games out of 21, coming on as a substitute in seven.
His story is even more interesting if you go way back to last summer. Wolves signed him from Celta Vigo for £23m and then just two months later Newcastle made a £55m bid for him. Wolves rejected the bid.
Fast forward to this window and Leeds United have made a bid of £40m for the striker, even though he has scored just one league goal, and that from the spot. Wolves also turned this bid down. And now, bafflingly, Palace have increased the bid to £45m.
To be fair, Strand Larsen scored 14 league goals in 35 appearances for Wolves last season, proving himself to be one of their main men as they fought a relegation battle and survived.
But £45m seems to be quite on the high side for a player in the belief that he can replicate the form he showed last season, when he has gone more than half of this campaign on such a dry spell. Certainly a curious deal.
