Why did Crystal Palace buy Jorgen Strand Larsen? | OneFootball

Crystal Palace have broken their transfer record to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen, a tall, mobile Norwegian centre-forward brought in to address a blunt attack.

According to NY Times, the deal is £43m up front plus £5m in add-ons, eclipsing the £35m spent on Brennan Johnson and dwarfing the £9m paid for Alexander Sorloth in 2018.

Palace have not won a league game since seven December and have scored 25 in 24, around 13 below their expected goals. With Premier League strikers scarce and costly, their issues have been primarily attacking rather than defensive.

Strand Larsen brings movement, link play and varied finishing, though he can drift without service and is not always dominant physically. Palace plan to supply him with better crosses, reflected in their late but failed push for Dwight McNeil.

He scored 14 for Wolverhampton Wanderers last season, yet has only one league goal so far, influenced by Wolves’ struggles and an early achilles problem. A World Cup with Norway at season’s end should help sharpen motivation.

Jean-Philippe Mateta sought Champions League football and rejected an improved deal. His Milan move collapsed on deadline day, he may need knee surgery and will surely be sold in the summer, a fee that would help offset Palace’s outlay. The fee is huge by Palace standards. Strand Larsen turns 26 later this month and, while nothing is guaranteed, if Oliver Glasner revives his best form the logic could be vindicated.

Source: NY Times