Jorgen Strand Larsen transfer news: Wolves accept £48m Crystal Palace offer for striker
Palace set to pay guaranteed £43m plus £5m in add-ons for Jorgen Strand Larsen in a move that opens the door for Jean-Philippe Mateta to undergo a medical with AC Milan ahead of Monday's 7pm deadline; Palace are set to break their transfer record for the second time this window
Sunday 1 February 2026 16:57, UK
Jean-Philippe Mateta has been given permission to have a medical with AC Milan after Crystal Palace agreed a £48m deal with Wolves for striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Palace broke their transfer record to sign Brennan Johnson for £35m from Tottenham earlier in the window but are set to surpass that after their latest offer for the 25-year-old forward was accepted.
The south London club are set to pay a guaranteed £43m, plus £5m in add-ons for Strand Larsen and that move opens the door for Mateta to join Milan.
Mateta had been waiting over the weekend for the greenlight to finalise his move to Milan while Palace worked on finding a replacement. He missed Palace's 1-1 draw at 10-man Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
The striker also had an offer from Forest but his heart was set on a move to Milan. He believes it will give him the best chance of playing for France at the World Cup.
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Palace negotiated a lower price with Wolves for Strand Larsen after being close to agreeing a fixed fee of £45m plus £5m in add-ons on Thursday.
Leeds had also been interested in Strand Larsen but were unwilling to go above £40m for the 25-year-old and it is understood that the promoted club are unlikely to bring in another striker before the deadline.
Strand Larsen has scored one goal in 22 Premier League appearances this term for bottom-club Wolves but impressed at the back end of last season with a run of seven goals in eight games.
Inside Palace's negotiation for Strand Larsen
Sky Sports News' James Savundra:
Palace have managed to negotiate a package with Wolves lower than what was close to being agreed on Thursday.
They were unwilling to commit to the £5m in add-ons that Wolves were attempting to insert into the deal.
The Eagles risked missing out on the transfer but bided their time to negotiate a more favourable deal ahead of Monday's deadline.
Wolves have been adamant that they did not need to sell the Norway striker.
However, both clubs were aware that the player would not be able to fetch anywhere close to £45m in the summer based on Wolves' impending relegation and Strand Larsen's continued on-field struggles.
Therefore, Palace feel they've been able to extract better value from the deal while still paying a premium for a striker in January.
Palace were not actively looking to sell Jean-Philippe Mateta in this transfer window.
However, an impasse in contract negotiations and the Frenchman making clear of his wishes to depart accelerated Palace's transfer plans.
Palace's season hangs on a knife edge. They still have a strong opportunity of adding further silverware to their cabinet via the Conference League, and recording a solid Premier League finish.
However, a nine-match winless run in the top flight means there is work to do to avoid an uncomfortable end to Oliver Glasner's final months in charge.
Analysis: Palace banking on return to form
Sky Sports' Nick Wright:
Twenty-two appearances and yet only one goal scored. Based on Strand Larsen's output this season, the £48m fee appears bewilderingly high.
Crystal Palace are banking on a return to his 2024/25 form, when he scored 14 goals and provided four assists in 35 appearances in his first season in the Premier League.
It was the third top-flight campaign in his career in which Strand Larsen has reached double figures for goals, following a 14-goal season in the Eredivisie with Groningen in 2021/22, and a 13-goal season in La Liga with Celta Vigo in 2023/24.
His record before this season shows goalscoring pedigree, and he appears a good stylistic fit too. Like Jean-Philippe Mateta, he is a tall and strong physical presence against opposition centre-backs, able to act as a target man and offer runs in behind.
He also has room to develop, being three years younger than Mateta at 25. Even so, he may have work to do to convince fans than he can provide value for money at £50m given his struggles this season.
