Nottingham Forest have placed Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jorgen Strand Larsen at the top of their January wishlist as Sean Dyche moves quickly to solve a mounting injury crisis at the City Ground.
The Reds have been forced into the market following the confirmation that top scorer Chris Wood faces a significant spell on the sidelines. According to reports cited by the Nottingham Post and originally broken by The Telegraph, Forest have made contact regarding the Norwegian’s availability, hoping to tempt their Midlands rivals into a sale.
Context: The Dyche Blueprint
Since taking charge in October following the short-lived tenure of Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche has stabilised Nottingham Forest by returning to a more direct, physically robust style of play. Central to this system was Chris Wood, whose aerial dominance and hold-up play were pivotal to Dyche’s tactical setup. However, with Wood now ruled out for "months not weeks" with a knee injury, Forest are left with a gaping hole in their attack.
Strand Larsen, 25, fits the Dyche profile almost perfectly. Standing at 6ft 4in, he possesses the physical attributes to lead the line in a standalone role. However, his second season in England has been difficult. Permanent Wolves boss Rob Edwards—who arrived in November to try and salvage a season that sees the club languishing in 20th place—has struggled to get a tune out of the forward. Strand Larsen has scored just three times in all competitions this term, a sharp decline from his impressive debut campaign.
Transfer Logic: A Risk for Both Sides?
For Forest, the logic is sound but expensive. Dyche requires a specific type of forward; nimble poachers or false nines simply do not function in his preferred system. Strand Larsen offers Premier League experience and the requisite physicality to occupy defenders, creating space for the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga. If Forest can restore the confidence he showed in 2024/25, he could be the difference between a comfortable mid-table finish and a nervous slide toward the bottom three.
For Wolves, the decision is more complex. Having only recently triggered the permanent obligation to buy Strand Larsen from Celta Vigo, selling him so soon would represent a significant pivot. However, their desperate league position requires drastic action. The squad is unbalanced, and funds are tight. Sanctioning the sale of an underperforming asset for a fee in the region of £30m-£40m could give Edwards the war chest he needs to bring in three or four fresh faces to spark a "Great Escape."
There is also the psychological aspect. Molineux has been a gloomy place this season, and Strand Larsen has often cut a frustrated figure isolated up front. A fresh start under a manager who explicitly values his specific skillset could be appealing to the player, who fears losing his spot in the Norway national team ahead of the World Cup.
What Happens Next?
Forest are expected to test Wolves' resolve with an opening bid in the coming days. The key variable will be Wolves' ability to line up a replacement; they cannot afford to let their main recognised striker leave without a successor in the building. Expect this deal to hinge on dominoes falling elsewhere in the striker market, but for now, Strand Larsen is very much the primary target for Dyche’s rebooted Forest.