Newcastle United have had a tumultuous summer in the summer transfer market.
Star striker Alexander Isak has been desperately pushing for a move, and incoming signings have been far from smooth sailing.
Despite the impressive acquisitions of Aaron Ramsdale, Malik Thiaw, Jacob Ramsey, and Anthony Elanga, the Magpies have faced many more rejections than approvals.
João Pedro, Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Šeško, and Liam Delap were all approached, but they chose Premier League rivals instead.
After struggling to complete a move for Brentford forward Yoanne Wissa, the latest striker they may or may not be able to reach an agreement for is Wolves striker Jørgen Strand Larsen.
This Jorgen Strand Larsen player analysis will examine Strand Larsen’s profile, considering his strengths and weaknesses, and assess how he may fit into the side at St. James’ Park, either as a replacement for or alongside Alexander Isak or Nick Woltemade.
Jørgen Strand Larsen Stats
Jørgen Strand Larsen possesses all the physical attributes of a typical centre forward, target man profile, although he offers more than this.
The Norwegian stands at 6’4, and combines this height with strength and speed.
He is capable of leading the line solo but can also run in behind and beat defenders for speed.
Because of this, he suits a system that allows him to mix having his back to goal with the occasional runs in behind.
Jørgen Strand Larsen Pizza Chart
To assess how good Jørgen Strand Larsen is, we need to examine his statistics.
Whilst this TFA chart is not overly impressive in terms of his percentile ranking, the more dominant areas should be used to reflect his strengths and weaknesses.
Last year, Wolves came 16th in the Premier League and were hugely uninspiring.
They generated just 45 xG, the fourth-lowest in the league, and they also sacked their manager halfway through the season.
This made it very hard for their attacking players, yet Strand Larsen still managed to contribute 18 goals and assists.
As shown above, his most impressive features are his goal contributions, aerial dominance, and positioning.
Jørgen Strand Larsen Finishing
Unsurprisingly, Newcastle have struggled to convert chances in their first two games without Isak.
One point does not fit their performances thus far, and they will need to urgently start capitalising on being the better side in matches.
Jørgen Strand Larsen, on paper, could provide significant assistance with this.
Last season, he scored 14 goals for Wolves, from an xG of just 11.
In 2023/2024 at Celta Vigo, he scored 20 goals from 19 expected goals (xG).
His shot-on-target percentage was 61.1% in last season’s Premier League, which ranked him in the 99th percentile of forwards.
His goals-to-shots ratio was 0.26, which put him in the 98th percentile of forwards.
Whilst these stats come from just a small sample in the Premier League, these numbers suggest that the goals could flow if a team can get him in the correct positions more often.
Below is an example of his finishing skills.
Against Tottenham Hotspur, he receives the ball at a very difficult angle and has to control it, especially as the ball bounces awkwardly.
Despite this, he manages to quickly bring it under control before assessing the keeper’s positioning and considering how he could score.
He does this quickly, executing his finish with extreme accuracy and power.
— Footie Clips (@FootieClips) August 27, 2025
Below is another example of his finishing.
A completely different finish, this time he lets the ball run across his body before hitting it softly and accurately into the corner.
— Footie Clips (@FootieClips) August 27, 2025
These clips show why he overperformed his xG last season.
He is composed in front of the goal and has a very varied range of finishes in his arsenal.
This makes him a versatile forward, as he can collect the ball in many different areas of the penalty box and still convert with ease.
This is an issue for opposition defenders who want to take him down a weak side.
Jørgen Strand Larsen Positioning
Another reason he has managed to generate such a good goal tally in a relatively weak Wolverhampton side is down to his sharp and aware movement in the penalty area.
Clearly, so far in the Premier League, he has not averaged many touches of the ball per 90.
To manage this, he has instead found a way to ensure that when he does receive, he is in a zone where he can instantly capitalise and make an impact.
As seen below against Ipswich, Jørgen Strand Larsen manages to sneak in behind the opposition defence.
When the ball is played across the goal, he is unmarked and has a clear opportunity to score.
Whilst it appears simple, many strikers in this situation stay behind the defenders and lose possession of the first ball, allowing for an easy clearance.
Many of his goals were scored due to these movements and his skill in evading defenders in the box.
In fact, only two of the goals he scored last season were outside the penalty area.
This is an attribute that does not always show on a statistics board, but is a necessity for any forward to reach the top of their game.
It is the reason forwards like Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski appear to always be in the right spot.
It gives his team goals from attacks that previously didn’t seem overly threatening, and over the course of a season, it wins points that teams arguably don’t deserve.
Jørgen Strand Larsen Aerial Dominance
Jørgen Strand Larsen is very effective and aggressive in the air, providing Wolves with a solid outlet when they are forced deep under pressure.
Last season, he managed a 41% aerial win rate.
In his final season at Celta Vigo, this figure stood at 47%.
He uses this aerial strength in the penalty area, at set pieces, and in general play.
Below is an example of how he uses his height to win the ball, before using his technique to convert a difficult chance.
— Footie Clips (@FootieClips) August 27, 2025
Below is where he tends to use his aerial ability more frequently, however.
Wolves are very direct, meaning he often has long balls into him and runners off him, as shown.
Newcastle are not a side that are forced deep as often as Wolves due to their higher quality of technicality within the squad.
Nevertheless, with exceptional runners like Elanga and Gordon off the ball, direct balls into Jørgen Strand Larsen with movement off and behind him could be a great new way for Eddie Howe to create opportunities.
Alexander Isak Comparison
There are many rumours that his arrival will be a replacement or a complementary acquisition to the controversial Swede currently leading the line.
Despite their similarities in height and position, the two players have very different profiles.
Isak is unique in being physical and pacy, as well as technical and Firmino-like in his ability to drop deep and link play.
Jørgen Strand Larsen is not this.
He is physically gifted, a great finisher, and possesses top-level positional awareness; Geordie fans will be grateful to hear that he has a rumoured brilliant character.
Nevertheless, Newcastle would be getting a much more traditional striker.
Last season, Isak averaged 2.71 progressive carries, 2.87 progressive passes and 1.37 successful take-ons per 90.
For comparison, Strand Larsen averaged 0.59 progressive carries, 2.87 progressive passes and 1.01 successful take-ons per 90.
Furthermore, Isak had a passing completion of 75.3% compared to Strand Larsen’s 64.6%, which actually put him in just the 21st percentile of forwards.
While part of this is down to his team and style of play, Jørgen Strand Larsen would be a huge drop-off in all-around play compared to Isak.
He will not contribute to the development of attacks in the same way, nor will he be capable of carrying the ball up the field and taking defenders out of play.
It would force Howe to make a stylistic change.
They would have to find him higher up the pitch, in dangerous zones, and let him do what he is best at.
With that being said, with Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall at full-backs, and Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon on the wings, Jørgen Strand Larsen would no doubt thrive.
He could be a menace in the penalty box if they hold the width and supply the balls.
I would go so far as to say it would be a surprise if he did not beat the 14 Premier League goals he managed last time out, and that’s a number that the vast majority of forwards would call a successful tally.
Conclusion
Jørgen Strand Larsen would suit Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United prolifically and could be a brilliant signing for the North East Club.
He would bring physicality, more speed, and most importantly, a genuine ability to convert chances to their forward line.
The determination of just how good a signing it could be comes down to one aspect: whether he is a partner or a replacement for Alexander Isak or an Isak replacement like Nick Woltemade.
If he is a partner, then Newcastle are getting a hugely improved version of last season’s Callum Wilson, and their new attack looks a much more fearsome proposition than their 2024/2025 one.
If he is a replacement, then he is, sadly, a downgrade from their current world-class striker for now.
That doesn’t mean Newcastle will be a worse side; they may even suit the new forwards’ traits, but they will have to discover more creativity and technicality elsewhere in their play.
