Crystal Palace's anticipated £45 million acquisition of Norwegian striker Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolverhampton Wanderers is currently hanging in the balance, with the South London club yet to lodge a formal bid for the player.
Deal Discussions Have Cooled Significantly
Initial negotiations between Crystal Palace and Wolves had progressed to a point where a fee of at least £45 million was reportedly agreed upon in principle. However, Daily Mail Sport now understands that the Palace hierarchy has never been fully convinced by the prospective deal and their interest has notably cooled, at least for the immediate future.
This strategic pause could potentially be a tactical manoeuvre designed to apply downward pressure on the asking price for the 25-year-old forward. Despite failing to score from open play in the Premier League this season, Strand Larsen remains a highly regarded talent who had also attracted a concrete offer from Leeds United, alongside sustained interest from Nottingham Forest.
Ripple Effect on Jean-Philippe Mateta's Future
The stalled move for Strand Larsen creates a significant complication regarding the future of current Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. As revealed earlier this week, Nottingham Forest have made at least two offers for Mateta, whom Palace value at a minimum of £40 million.
Mateta has explicitly expressed his desire to leave Selhurst Park and would be open to a transfer to Forest. Furthermore, European giants Juventus and AC Milan have also registered their interest in the French forward. The situation presents a delicate balancing act for Palace; if they do not ultimately proceed with the Strand Larsen deal, they may become far more reluctant to sanction Mateta's departure, leaving them short of attacking options.
This transfer subplot adds an intriguing layer to this weekend's fixture, as Crystal Palace are scheduled to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday.
Forest's Pursuit of Brighton's Yasin Ayari Continues
In related transfer news, Nottingham Forest are reportedly preparing a second approach for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Yasin Ayari. Their initial £20 million bid for the 22-year-old Swedish international was rejected by the Seagulls.
Ayari has firmly established himself as a key component of Brighton's squad this season, making 23 appearances across all competitions. During that time, he has contributed four goals and one assist, while also earning 17 caps for the Swedish national team, underscoring his growing reputation and potential.
