Exclusive: Forest and West Ham Set for Transfer Tug-of-War Over Wolves Striker Strand Larsen

Nottingham Forest and West Ham are poised to go head to head in the battle for Jørgen Strand Larsen’s signature, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers centre-forward is wanted by both clubs after helping Norway reach next year’s World Cup finals.

And with Wolves spiralling towards to Championship following an eight season stay in the Premier League, Nuno Espirito Santo and Sean Dyce, his successor at the City Ground, are ready to test the Molineux hierarchy’s determination to retain the services of a player who netted 14 goals in the top-flight last term.

Forest are set to be forced into the transfer market to provide Dyche with cover for Chris Wood, who like Strand Larsen has struggled for fitness this season. 

They would prefer to wait until the 25-year-old fully recovers from a niggling Achilles tendon complaint before showing their hand. 

But that could be forced if The Hammers submit a bid as Nuno looks to bolster his attacking options as Niclas Fullkrug struggles to make an impact in east London.

Strand Larsen is understood to be making significant progress in his rehabilitation and, in an apparent show of loyalty, recently agreed a new contract at Wolves. 

Additionally, Wolves were linked with a move for out-of-favour West Ham striker Niclas Füllkrug earlier this year, and the Germany international could now be used as a makeweight in any deal to take Norway forward to the London Stadium.

PREDICAMENT

However, given their predicament at the foot of the table, insiders suggest that decision was an attempt by the club’s board to protect their investment when the inevitable happens and their elite level status is surrendered.

Although Strand Larsen is not actively looking to force an exit, he is unlikely to relish the prospect of playing in the second tier after attracting interest from both home and abroad over the summer.

Previously of Gronigen and Celta Vigo, Strand Larsen’s combative style and finishing skills would make him an ideal replacement for Wood at Forest. 

Like Fullkrug, amid suggestions that he could soon begin exploring the possibility of a return to his native Germany.

Despite being tied to Wolves for another five years, Strand Larsen’s valuation is expected to fit into the budgets Forest and West Ham have set aside for reinforcements, particularly given that Rob Edwards’ employers would want to remove his salary from the wage bill in order to stop themselves burning through their parachute payments.