Leeds United active pursuit for number 9 despite fate of official bid and PSR caveat
Leeds United lodged a formal transfer bid this week.
Leeds United remain in talks with Wolves over a deal for centre forward Jorgen Strand Larsen after making an official bid this week.
The Whites first enquired about the Norwegian earlier this month and see him as a prime candidate to provide competition and back-up for Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the lone striker role. Though all of the caveats club sources stated last week remain pertinent - there is plenty of competition for the player and their Profitability and Sustainability position complicates things - to get to the point of placing a bid Leeds have evidently been sufficiently encouraged by their conversation with Wolves and the player's representatives. The Telegraph first reported the bid on Friday morning.
The YEP understands that while the first bid was not immediately accepted by Wolves, Leeds' interest and pursuit remains active so they have not been deterred by whatever noises came back from Molineux this week. The conversation is ongoing and a deal could yet be made.
Crystal Palace have also been credited with interest in Strand Larsen and Leeds believe there are others in the bottom half of the Premier League among his admirers. Wolves find themselves in a difficult position with eight points from 22 games so far this season and relegation already looming large. Selling the player now, or even striking a loan to buy deal that obligates a club to take him permanently in the summer, might guarantee them more money than they could get for the 25-year-old.
Leeds know all too well of the difficulties in player trading brought on by relegation, though it is not known if Strand Larsen has a clause in his contract that would be activated by Wolves' departure from the top flight.
The PSR situation is one that could weigh against Leeds as they attempt to land the striker but club chiefs obviously believe there is a way to strike a deal and still stay within the financial regulations.
Daniel Farke said on Thursday that there remains space in his squad for another player but he was not keen to add many and end up with a bloated, unhappy group. Another position that Leeds could consider strengthening, one Farke said they were aware of, was left-back. Gabriel Gudmundsson has nailed down the starting position but Farke has admitted there is a lack of natural left-footed alternatives now that Jack Harrison has gone on loan to Fiorentina.