Newcastle United are in talks over the signing of a towering Scandinavian attacker this summer, who could join alongside one of Yoane Wissa or Nicolas Jackson.

Newcastle watch on as striker dominoes fall

The striker situation at St James’ Park has dominated their summer, with Alexander Isak’s future still in doubt amid continued interest from Liverpool and seemingly every other European rival in the top flight landing their own superstar striker.

If Isak does depart, he would be the second big Swedish striker transfer of the summer aftter Viktor Gyokeres joined Arsenal, with the pair joining the likes of Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth in what is a growing crop of Nordic strikers thriving in major European leagues.

Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson have emerged as two of the leading options to arrive at St James’ Park to replace Isak, with both potentially needed if the Magpies lose both Isak and Callum Wilson in the same summer transfer window.

Like Isak, Wissa is refusing to play for his current club, in order to try and force a move away, while Jackson finds himself struggling for a starting berth at Stamford Bridge after the signing of Joao Pedro from Brighton. Now, an update has emerged regarding another Premier League attacker.

Newcastle join teams tapping into Scandinavian striker market

According to The Athletic‘s David Ornstein on X, Newcastle are in “talks” over signing Wolves and Norway striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, with the 25-year-old liking the idea of joining the Magpies.

“Newcastle retain firm interest in Jorgen Strand Larsen. Not more advanced than other options but 25yo Wolves forward among small group being considered. Talks via intermediaries + Norway int’l keen on NUFC but not agitating to exit.”

Strand Larsen stands out as another good option for Newcastle, having developed massively in recent years. According to Transfermarkt, the striker was worth just €600k (£500k) at Groningen, a number which has ballooned to €30m (£26m) after moves to Celta Vigo and then Wolves.

The Wolves ace has 14 goals in 39 appearances, which is a good return for a team that struggled in the Premier League last season, and Magpies legend Alan Shearer is a big admirer, hailing his qualities back in April.

“He was a nuisance. His hold-up play was excellent and I thought his touch and his control were superb. “Wolves didn’t play that well in the first half, but they certainly improved in the second. When you’ve got a guy who’s 6’4, you have to get balls into the box, and they certainly did that in the second half.”

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Strand Larsen is arguably a better option than Jackson, considering he scored more league goals than him in a weaker team last season, so he and Wissa could be ideal business to make up for the loss of Isak, if it happens.

“The difference between Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill is that Gill will take you right till the end,” Sanjay Manjrekar says

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-20254:30

Manjrekar: There’s an air of dominance around Gill

Shubman Gill is a ” [one for the long haul]” and batting at just 60% is enough for him to score a century like he did in India’s Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh. This is the assessment of Sanjay Manjrekar, who also feels that Gill gives the impression of being someone who will be around for a further 10-15 years while Shreyas Iyer doesn’t.”He [Gill] is batting at the right position to make a huge impact. When he gets a hundred, like today, it seems like there is plenty left in the tank,” Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo Match Day. “It was like 60% of Shubman Gill is enough to get a hundred like this and he stays till the end. That is the difference between Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill that Gill will take you right till the end. He is somebody who you think is going to be around for 10-15 years. Shreyas Iyer, despite his obvious talent, doesn’t give you that impression.”Gill finished unbeaten on 101 against Bangladesh and guided India in their chase of 229 in Dubai. He faced 129 balls and hit nine fours and two sixes in his knock and ensured India got home with six wickets and 21 balls to spare. One of his two sixes – a front-foot pull off Tanzim Hasan in the ninth over – went into the second tier of the stands at deep-midwicket.Related

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“Some of the shots he played, the good-length ball he hit and it went into second tier… the big game is at his beck and call,” Manjrekar said. “Can he be better in 50-over cricket as a batter? I don’t think so, what can be better than this?”In the company of Rohit Sharma, Gill started off quickly and raced to 26 off just 23 balls with four fours and a six by the time the first powerplay ended. But he slowed down when Bangladesh employed spin on a slowish track and kept an in-and-out field. He scored his slowest ODI fifty, off 69 balls, and then got to his hundred in 125 balls, the slowest for an India batter in ODIs since the 2019 World Cup. His ability to change gears impressed Manjrekar.”He’s got the class to do it [change gears],” he said. India are blessed with [a top three] who are also Test batters, so they can play different gears. Yashasvi Jaiswal, when he comes in eventually, is also a Test batter. So if the ball is swinging around in overseas conditions, they have the ability to see the new ball through and then handle the various situations. Shubman Gill is that kind of a player, he is not one-dimensional, he has all the gears and we saw him do that today as well. He is a guy at the top of his 50-over-cricket prowess and he does it very calmly. There is an air of dominance and surety with the way he bats and finishes games.”Shubman Gill dug deep for his slowest ODI hundred•AFP / Getty ImagesFormer India legspinner Anil Kumble was impressed by the restraint Gill showed against spin. Bangladesh had offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz and legspinner Rishad Hossain, and Gill scored only 34 off the 56 balls he faces against them, hitting just the one four. But he took 28 singles that helped him tick along.”The other thing that was noticeable today was generally when he sees the offspinner he steps out and launches it over long-on, midwicket,” Kumble said. “He didn’t want to take the risk perhaps because of the pitch. He felt that that was the riskier option. Although Miraz is someone he would take on – we have seen it even in Test match cricket. He was constantly looking to just ease through and ensure he was there till the end. That was very noticeable even when the [required] run rate dropped a little bit.”Manjrekar agreed: “And also the ability to nick off singles, keep that scoreboard ticking. It is not that he plays the sweep shot a lot or the dab. He goes very traditional and loves to keep the bat straight. Even when he is playing the pull shot, the bat comes down very straight. A lot of his singles would be back-foot punches to long-on instead of playing just with soft hands. A guy who can get singles at will, can hit a six at will, has got a reasonably good defence for 50-over cricket, he’s the complete player at the moment.”2:30

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There would have been slight jitters in the Indian camp when they slipped from 112 for 1 to 144 for 4 in under eight overs but Gill kept his calm and saw the chase through, which earned plaudits from Kumble.”He’s been brilliant, especially in this format. The elegance and the ease with which he got that hundred on a difficult pitch,” he said. “I don’t think it was a true pitch where the ball was coming on nicely. It was on the slower side and you had to make adjustments, yet he was middling the ball and timing it so well.”The best part about Shubman Gill was he ensured he saw the game through. It was not like he wanted to get going, get runs [and get out], we have seen that before. That is the maturity he has brought into the game. Hope this is the start of a fantastic season for him and India, because when you play the first match in a tournament and you get a hundred not out and you are there till the end, it augurs well.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers haven’t enjoyed the best of starts to the new Premier League campaign, having been thrashed by Manchester City before losing at Bournemouth by a one-goal margin, under the cosh for much of the contest.

Panic stations? Hardly. Wolves showed their quality and spirit when overcoming West Ham United in the midweek Carabao Cup clash, and have the chance to get their league season up and running when welcoming Everton to Molineux on Saturday.

One of the potential sticking points in mounting fluency and consistency over the coming months is the thought of losing goalscoring talisman Jørgen Strand Larsen, who is the subject of a flurry of bids from Newcastle United as the window winds down.

Strand Larsen's Wolves future

Wolves chairman Jeff Shi is adamant that Strand Larsen is going nowhere this summer, but the centre-forward has politely requested to join Newcastle United, who have seen three quick-succession bids – the latest of which worth £60m – rejected for the 25-year-old.

Having seen his loan spell made permanent this summer, you can understand the hierarchy’s stance, but every eventuality must be accounted for.

Wolves need to sign another striker, not least because Vitor Pereira lost Matheus Cunha to Manchester United a few months ago.

Well, according to Fabrizio Romano, Wolves have opened talks with Belgian club Genk for striker Tolu Arokodare, insinuating that pace is gathering on the Strand Larsen front, even if the Old Gold are maintaining their stance that the Norwegian is not for sale.

Valued at £25m, Fulham have also registered their interest in the Nigerian number nine this summer, but Wolves appear to hold the lead in the race at his late stage.

What Tolu Arokodare would bring to Wolves

Strand Larsen has played an important part for Wolves since joining from Celta Vigo last summer, scoring 14 goals as Pereira’s side staved off the threat of relegation that served as a backdrop to the campaign.

If he does end up leaving for St. James’ Park, Wolves would need an adequate replacement, and Arokodare has the skills to thrive in his stead, having scored 17 goals in 2024/25 to stand proud as the Juliper Pro League top scorer.

Genk manager Thorsten Fink was full of praise when discussing his marksman, hailing him as a “top striker” and drawing attention to his pace, power, height and two-footedness.

In that regard, the 24-year-old would appear a natural successor to Wolves’ current frontman, whose mobility and presence on the ball have allowed him to dovetail into Premier League life.

Hitherto a loanee in Germany and France, Arokodare has settled in Belgium, going from strength to strength. Across his 113 matches with Genk, who have won two of the past three league titles, the towering ace has scored 41 goals and has supplied 12 assists.

For sure, there’s more still to come. He’s not the most clinical, missing a slew of big chances across the recent season, but his thirst for success in the final third lends itself to a constant stream of goals.

With such a robust and focused style, he could easily replace Strand Larsen at Molineux, should push come to shove, having proven himself to be even more prolific than Wolves’ current marksman, across the last 365 days.

Strand Larsen vs Arokodare (past 365 days)

Stats (per 90)

Strand Larsen

Arokodare

Goals

0.45

0.62

Assists

0.14

0.22

Shots taken

1.96

4.98

Touches (att pen)

3.78

8.73

Shot-creating actions

1.43

3.40

Pass completion

65.1%

74.9%

Progressive passes

1.01

1.32

Progressive carries

0.56

1.15

Successful take-ons

0.24

0.88

Aerial duels

2.41

4.41

Data via FBref

Arokodare’s prowess as Genk’s striker comes with the caveat that he has, of course, been plying his trade at a different level than the Premier League, whereas Strand Larsen has leapt right into the ostensibly toughest division out there.

But still. There’s no denying that the rising goalscorer shares some interesting properties with Strand Larsen, and that Wolves could strike gold by sealing his signature in the coming days and turning a hefty profit on their current number nine.

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Posts ByWill Miller Aug 25, 2025

Jurgen Klopp's former assistant Peter Krawietz hit back at criticism of the former Liverpool manager's decision to join the Red Bull group as head of global soccer. The announcement stunned supporters after the former Reds boss left the dugout to head upstairs and take a strategic role at the German club.

• Fans blindsided by sudden departure

  Despite some whispers of Klopp's fatigue in the previous season, nobody, not even Krawietz himself, anticipated the manager’s imminent exit. The news unleashed a wave of backlash from the fanbase, with many questioning his timing. 

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• GOAL
  

  Criticism ‘misunderstood’ says Krawietz

  In an interview with GOAL, Krawietz said: "I've taken note of the criticism. But I don't understand it. I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding on the part of the fans."

  When pressed on what he meant about misunderstanding Klopp, Krawietz elaborated: "Where would Jurgen have been allowed to work, what would the public have approved of? There would have been numerous critical voices even if he, purely hypothetically, had become coach at Bayern Munich or Manchester United. Of course, that's not how free choice of profession works. You have to pay that much respect to an individual. You can't hold a public vote on what the fans approve of."

• Only one regret

  Some detractors argue Klopp should have claimed more silverware given the quality of his Liverpool squads. Krawietz, however, insists the only true disappointment remains one narrowly missed title.

  "There was a season in which we got 97 points, which was one point too few in the end," he sighed. "Even today, I'd still love to have won that one."

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  Liverpool thriving under Slot

  Interestingly, Liverpool secured the Premier League immediately following Klopp’s departure and appear poised to dominate English football for years under Arne Slot. The Reds have kicked off the new season with a flawless start, winning their opening five fixtures, signalling that the club’s forward momentum remains intact. Liverpool will next face Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, with supporters eager to see if Slot’s side can extend their perfect run. 

All summer long, Tottenham Hotspur fans have been crying out for a new number ten to help
Thomas Frank in his quest for success during his spell in the role.

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are the two players who shared the role in 2024/25, but the Dane will be without the duo until at least the start of 2026 through various injuries.

The hierarchy have attempted to fill such a void in the last few weeks, turning to Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze – but they ultimately missed out on both of the aforementioned talents.

However, their hunt has come to an end in recent days, landing the signature of Xavi Simons, with the Dutchman joining the Lilywhites in a £52m transfer from German side RB Leipzig.

With just a couple of days left in the window, the new boss still looks as though he wants added reinforcements this summer, subsequently targeting multiple other talents before Monday’s deadline.

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Premium Tottenham Hotspur Experiences Spurs’ hunt for new signings after Simons

Savinho is a player who’s been on Spurs’ radar all throughout the current window, but their attempts to land the Manchester City star have so far been to no avail.

Despite their inability to land the Brazilian international, talks have once again been held for his services in recent days – leading to reports suggesting the player wants to move to North London.

However, he’s not the only Manchester-based player in their sights, with Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo also on their radar, according to TEAMtalk.

Their report claims that Frank’s side have made an approach to the Red Devils to discuss a potential deal for the 20-year-old midfielder, who rose through the academy at Old Trafford.

It also states the player himself would be keen on a temporary move to join the Lilywhites before the deadline, after he stated his desire to gain more game time away from Ruben Amorim’s side.

Why Mainoo is a bigger talent than Simons

The deal to land Simons this week has generated huge excitement amongst the Spurs fanbase – understandably so given his tally of 18 combined goals and assists in the Bundesliga last season.

£52m is an excellent price for the 22-year-old, having huge potential to develop into a world-class talent under Frank’s guidance – especially if he continues on his current trajectory.

Given the injury situation in such a position, it was vital that the manager and the board secure the signature of a new number ten – with Simons having the chance to demonstrate his quality in the Premier League this season.

However, the hierarchy can’t rest on their laurels, subsequently needing further additions to help Frank in his quest for success during his spell in North London.

A deal for Mainoo would provide added quality and talent in the midfield department – arguably being a bigger talent than the Dutchman when delving into his stats from 2024/25.

The 20-year-old, who’s been described by United writer Alex Turk as a future “£100m-plus footballer”, ranked in the 84th percentile of all players in the Premier League for tackle success rate (60%) whilst winning 1.6 tackles per 90.

Such numbers could provide a needed presence at the heart of the side for Frank – but his numbers in possession would also offer the boss a new dimension in tight areas.

Games played

25

Minutes played

1656

Pass accuracy

87%

Passes into the final third

2.7

Tackles won

1.6

% of tackles won

60%

Take-ons completed

1.3

Carries into the opposition box

0.6

Interceptions made

1.1

The Englishman ranked in the 84th percentile for take-ons completed per 90 (1.3) also notching 0.6 carries into the opposition box per 90 – which places him in the top 19% of stars in England’s top-flight.

The youngster would be able to operate in a perfect box-to-box position for the Lilywhites – which could see him dictate the play and often provide Simons with chances in forward areas.

Despite his tender age, Mainoo has already racked up 50 appearances in the Premier League, having the potential to develop into a generational talent if given the game time under Frank.

Such a move would be an excellent coup for Spurs, adding further depth and quality to their midfield department – following in the footsteps of Simons and Joao Palhinha this summer.

If the pair can operate together in North London, there’s no reason why Frank can’t help the side battle for a spot in the Champions League once again come the end of the 2025/26 season.

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A Kudus repeat: "Incredible" £70m ace now wants to join Spurs after Simons

Tottenham Hotspur could now complete another deal after landing Xavi Simons earlier today.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 29, 2025

AM Ghazanfar, the 18-year-old right-arm fingerspinner who has made such a bright start to his ODI career, has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025 because of a “fracture in the L4 vertebra”. Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote, who was originally in the list of reserves, has now replaced Ghazanfar in the main squad.The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), which tweeted out the news on Wednesday morning, said that Ghazanfar sustained the injury during Afghanistan’s tour of Zimbabwe late last year, and “will be sidelined for a minimum of four months and will remain under treatment during this period”. That means he will also be out of the IPL that is set to be played from March 21 to May 25. Ghazanfar had bagged his maiden IPL contract recently, with Mumbai Indians.Ghazanfar, who has 21 wickets from 11 ODIs so far, played three games for MI Emirates in the UAE’s ILT20 league in January after the tour of Zimbabwe. He wasn’t as effective as MI Emirates would have hoped him to be, though, bowling 7.1 overs in those three games, and picking up just one wicket with an economy rate of 9.48.