Crystal Palace agree £50m Strand Larsen deal and close on Guessand loan

Wolves have agreed to sell Jørgen Strand Larsen to Crystal Palace after receiving a bid totalling £50m for the Norway striker.

The agent Jorge Mendes has been leading negotiations on behalf of Wolves, who have accepted an initial £45m, plus £5m in add-ons. Strand Larsen would represent Palace’s record buy, eclipsing the £35m they paid to take Brennan Johnson from Tottenham this month.

Palace are also closing on the loan signing of the Aston Villa winger Evann Guessand, who joined Villa in a £30.5m deal from Nice last summer, when Palace were one of the clubs beaten to his signature. The Ivory Coast international has struggled to make an impact at Villa and Unai Emery has highlighted the right flank as a key area to strengthen as they continue to fight on three fronts. Palace have agreed an option to buy.

Leeds were viewed as the most serious competition for Strand Larsen but Palace are poised to complete the deal, with the Elland Road club unlikely to match the package on offer to Wolves.

Leeds had a bid of about £40m rejected for the 25-year-old this month, and Nottingham Forest, also hunting an experienced striker, have also been monitoring him.

In the summer Strand Larsen was the subject of several bids from Newcastle totalling £55m but Wolves rejected those. The Premier League’s bottom club recognise Strand Larsen’s value will plummet in the event of relegation.

Aston Villa's Evann Guessand (right) has struggled to break into Unai Emery’s side. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA

Strand Larsen signed permanently for Wolves in a £23m deal last summer after scoring 14 goals during a loan from Celta Vigo. In September he signed a contract extension to 2030 but has since struggled and it was apparent that a sale, at the right price, would benefit all parties.

Palace pushing through a deal for Strand Larsen is expected to create a domino effect at Selhurst Park and beyond. Jean-Philippe Mateta wants to leave Palace, with Forest lodging a £35m bid. Palace will not allow Mateta to depart without signing a replacement.

Elsewhere, Burnley have signed James Ward-Prowse on loan from their relegation rivals West Ham. The 31-year-old former Southampton midfielder has not played a minute since Nuno Espírito Santo succeeded Graham Potter in September.

“As soon as I heard of Burnley’s interest and spoke to the manager [Scott Parker], I knew this loan spell was just what I needed,” said Ward-Prowse. “There’s a big battle between now and the end of the season, but I’m going to relish every moment.”