Newcastle United may have quietly dodged a very expensive mistake, and recent developments have only underlined just how close the club came to getting it wrong in the transfer market.
During the summer window, the Magpies were heavily linked with Jorgen Strand Larsen as they searched desperately for a striker to fill the looming gap left by Alexander Isak’s uncertain future.
At one stage, Newcastle pushed hard to land the Norwegian forward, submitting multiple bids in an attempt to get a deal over the line.
Those bids climbed as high as £55 million, a huge sum for a player who was seen as a key solution to Newcastle’s attacking worries. That figure is even more striking when you consider it matches the fee Newcastle eventually paid for Yoane Wissa. At the time, the pressure was intense.
The club needed goals, the clock was ticking, and options were limited. In that frantic environment, it is easy to see how Newcastle came so close to committing a massive chunk of their budget to Strand Larsen.
In the end, Newcastle walked away and instead brought in Wissa along with German international Nick Woltemade. With the benefit of hindsight, that decision looks wiser by the week. Strand Larsen’s form since the summer has been deeply underwhelming.
Across 15 Premier League appearances this season, he has managed just one goal. For a striker who was being valued close to £60 million, those numbers are alarming and would have brought serious scrutiny had he arrived at St James’ Park.
What makes the situation even stranger is that Wolves handed Strand Larsen a new long-term contract in September, tying him to the club until 2030. On paper, that showed faith in the player, but it has done little to improve Wolves’ fortunes.
The Midlands club are stuck in a dreadful league position, having picked up just two points all season. That struggle has reopened the door to transfer speculation, despite the recent contract extension.
Now, West Ham United are reportedly weighing up a move for Strand Larsen in January. According to reports, the London club are considering a permanent deal as they look for solutions of their own.
Like Wolves, West Ham find themselves flirting with relegation trouble and are desperate for goals. Ironically, Strand Larsen’s only other goals this season, aside from his lone league strike, came against West Ham in a Carabao Cup win. That brief success seems to have caught the Hammers’ attention.
From a Newcastle perspective, the latest news feels like confirmation that the club made the right call. There is no suggestion that Eddie Howe or the recruitment team view Strand Larsen as a target anymore, especially after securing both Wissa and Woltemade.
Woltemade, in particular, has shown encouraging signs, offering energy, movement, and goals at a time when Newcastle badly needed a lift. Compared to Strand Larsen’s struggles, the contrast is stark.
The near-miss also highlights how dangerous that summer window could have been for Newcastle. With Isak unsettled and pressure mounting from all sides, the club were forced into reactive decision-making.
Spending £55 million, or even more, on a striker who has since failed to deliver would have been a heavy blow, not just financially but also in terms of squad planning. It would have limited flexibility and possibly blocked the path for better-fitting signings.
New sporting director Ross Wilson has already hinted that Newcastle will be more measured going forward. Speaking earlier this month, he explained that the club are unlikely to repeat the same level of spending in the winter window. However, he also made it clear that funds are available if the right opportunity presents itself. The key, according to Wilson, is alignment with the long-term squad plan rather than short-term panic.
That approach feels sensible, especially in light of the Strand Larsen situation. Newcastle may not have landed every target they wanted last summer, but avoiding a costly mistake can be just as important as making a marquee signing.
As the January window approaches, this episode serves as a reminder that patience and clear thinking can save clubs from decisions they later regret. For Newcastle United, walking away from Strand Larsen may turn out to be one of their smartest moves of the season.
