Wolverhampton Wanderers

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Striker Jorgen Strand Larsen remains ready to play for Wolves and could face Bournemouth, boss Rob Edwards has confirmed.

The 25-year-old's proposed move to Crystal Palace is in serious doubt after the Eagles indicated they were ready to back out of a £50m transfer.

The clubs agreed a deal in principle but, before Monday's transfer deadline, Strand Larsen still remains a Wolves player and available to face the Cherries on Saturday.

Wolves also rejected an offer worth £39m from Leeds earlier in the month.

Edwards said: "It's pretty clear, he's trained and he'll be part of the squad tomorrow.

"He's trained really well today, so that's as much as I can say on it really at the moment.

"That's something for them [if Palace have backed out], and obviously I'm working for Wolves, so I don't know."

Goalkeeper Jose Sa is also due to be involved at Molineux despite interest from Nottingham Forest.

Forest boss Sean Dyche turned his attention to Sa after John Victor was ruled out for the season with a knee injury.

Strand Larsen only signed a five-year deal in September after making his loan move from Celta Vigo permanent in the summer for £23m.

Newcastle had two bids of £50m and £55m rejected in August and Wolves would be happy to keep him if their asking price is not met ahead of Monday's 19:00 GMT deadline.

Wolves are bottom of the Premier League and 17 points from safety as they prepare for an expected relegation to the Championship.

"In the next couple of days we'll see what happens. We've been working really hard on loads and loads of things, but January is difficult," said Edwards.

"It is really, really challenging but a big part of our work is retaining people that we want to retain and making sure that we're very competitive and in a strong position going forward.

"We are competitive right now, that's a fact.

"If you look at the form and at how we're playing, we're competitive and we want to try to keep improving and that is our aim."

Wolves boss Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Bournemouth at Molineux (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Although Crystal Palace have shown a strong interest in Wolves forward Jorgen Strand Larsen, Rob Edwards confirmed the striker "will be part of the squad tomorrow".

• Crystal Palace have agreed a deal in principle worth in the region of £50m to sign Strand Larsen but the 25-year-old "has trained" with Wolves this week. "It's as much as I can say on it at the moment," added Edwards.

• When asked if Crystal Palace had backed away from the deal, Edwards said: "That's them, and I'm working for Wolves, so I don't know."

• Edwards says his side "have been working hard" behind the scenes to bring in players before deadline day on 2 February. He added: "January is difficult, it is really challenging. But obviously a big part of our work as well is retaining people we want to retain, to make sure we're competitive and in a strong position going forward."

• The Wolves boss believes "there will be action" from the West Midlands club before the deadline.

• On Wolves' team news: "The only thing we have got is we have Krejci struggling with flu. So he is a slight doubt. We will see how he reacts, other than that JJ [Jean-Ricner Bellegarde] is available for us, which is a nice little plus for us."

• On the Cherries: "Bournemouth, I have got loads of respect for them and the job that Andoni [Iraola] is doing and done. They are a really hard-working team with loads of energy and play football on the front foot. I love watching them play. It must be exciting being connected with that football club at the moment. I feel even though we lost last time out, we can still take a lot out of it."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Before Monday's transfer deadline, striker Jorgen Strand Larsen's future at Molineux remains in the balance.

Rob Edwards' news conference on Friday is likely to be the latest instalment of the mini Strand Larsen saga, with his move to Crystal Palace in serious doubt.

Nothing was ever officially agreed for the Norwegian, even if a £50m deal was struck in principle, and there remains a chance he will stay beyond the deadline - something Wolves would still be happy and comfortable with.

Yet they have been open to selling the striker for the right price as they plan for relegation to the Championship.

Leeds' near £40m bid was rejected almost two weeks ago and it remains to be seen if they return with another offer.

Wolves host Bournemouth on Saturday as Edwards tries to maintain momentum, despite last week's defeat by Manchester City, and he will be quizzed about Strand Larsen's future at Compton later.

Edwards appeared a little irritated when discussing transfers last week, but with just days left of the window it is an inescapable topic.

Come back to this page later on Friday for all the key lines from Edwards.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the agreed deal in principle worth in the region of £50m from Crystal Palace to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Here are some of your comments:

Peter: Strand Larsen is an excellent player, but Wolves have a great deal at £50 million and should take the money, because they will go down with or without him. The cash will help build a squad worthy of an immediate return to the top flight.

Ray: It's a good move for both parties. JSL had his head turned by Newcastle & hasn't performed at all this season.

Andy: He's been in a sulk and on strike since he didn't get his Newcastle deal in the summer. Rats and sinking ships spring to mind. Yet more Fosun asset stripping.

Jon: It's obviously good business for the club. We've made a decent profit on a player who has struggled this season, and we've offloaded him from the wage bill for the championship next season. I have no complaints, but we need to bring in some other attacking options wherever possible. I know this is hard in our current predicament.

Dan: On the face of it, it's a great bit of business for Wolves because I never thought we would get £50m. But I was hoping that he would be given the opportunity to form a partnership with Mane. It's going to be a hard slog in the championship next year with half a team.

Nick: I'll drive him there myself, and also buy him lunch on the way.

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace have agreed a deal in principle worth in the region of £50m to sign Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.

The 25-year-old Norway international scored 14 goals on loan from Celta Vigo last season as he helped Wolves finish 16th in the Premier League before sealing a £23m move in July.

Wolves rejected bids of £50m and £55m from Newcastle in the summer, before Strand Larsen signed a new five-year contract with the option for an extra year in September.

He has only scored one league this season in a difficult campaign for the Old Gold, but this has not deterred interest, with Leeds having already seen an offer of £40m rejected in January.

What do you make of the deal? How do you reflect on Strand Larsen's time at Wolves? And how will the transfer fee received help rebuild the squad?

Get in touch with your views here

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

"I think he's great," said Rob Edwards, as we discussed Yerson Mosquera's performance against Manchester City.

"He's fully committed and he plays with passion. It's just who he is."

Mosquera is an interesting case study when we examine Wolves' plight this season, and look for signs that things might recover in the medium-term.

Is Mosquera a Premier League-standard player? It is not unfair to ask that question of any member of a squad that has won only one out of 23 games.

Eight yellow cards in his last 11 matches is not a statistic that suggests comfort at this level.

Yet Mosquera is also playing with an ambitious, buccaneering spirit which could, if well-channelled, not only make the most of his attributes but gain a lot of popular support.

Several times lately – twice at the Etihad Stadium – he has played a pass to start a move and taken off like a startled horse, hurling himself at the opposing defence.

He barged through to win two headers at set-pieces against City and was unlucky not to score with both.

To the end, at both ends of the pitch, he competed for everything as if his life depended on it.

"We've got to try and control it," said Edwards of Mosquera's incandescent energy.

"We need 11 people on the pitch and we don't want him getting booked every week, but he's someone that's got great athleticism.

"You can move him to a right-back position. He can go up against someone like [Jeremy] Doku and cope with him, and not many can do that. So he's very important to us."

Whatever the Wolves squad looks like next season – whatever it looks like next week, for that matter – they will need players with quality and composure, whether they are back in the Championship or not.

But it will help to also have players with a sense of adventure. Fans make heroes of footballers who visibly give their maximum in every second of the match.

Mosquera may well become a better player over time. It would be a pity if he is not around with Wolves next season for us to find out.

"I know it's hard when people look at the table, and they'll sort of think, 'well, they're rubbish,' but I don't think we are," Edwards said.

"Hopefully we're showing that as well, and we're trying to improve week on week. The players are working really hard and we've got to keep doing that."

That's the mentality the club needs, however difficult the remaining months of the season may become.

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Bournemouth at 15:00 GMT on Saturday on BBC Radio WM

And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Explore Wolves content on BBC Sounds

Wolves are in talks to sign 25-year-old England midfielder Angel Gomes on loan from French club Marseille. (Talksport), external

Auxerre striker Lassine Sinayoko is another target for Wolves, with Championship clubs Coventry City and Middlesbrough also interested in the 26-year-old Mali international. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves have rejected a £6.9m offer from Roma for defender David Moller Wolfe.

It was instantly dismissed by the Molineux club on Monday afternoon and not taken as a serious offer.

It is unlikely the 23-year-old would be allowed to leave as Wolves would need a replacement before the 2 February deadline.

The left-back only joined Wolves from AZ Alkmaar in the summer for £10m and has made 16 appearances for for the club, who are bottom of the Premier League.

Should Roma find a replacement it would allow Liverpool loanee Kostas Tsimikas to leave the Stadio Olimpico.

Liverpool had agreed a deal in principle of around £5m with Tottenham for the sale of Andy Robertson, but it was dependent on the Reds being able to recall left-back Tsimikas from Roma, which they have not been able to do so far.

Wolves have also turned down a £33m offer, with £6m add-ons, from Leeds for striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.

They are open to refreshing the squad before a likely relegation to the Championship with Marshall Munetsi joining Paris FC on loan and Fer Lopez returning to Celta Vigo on loan.

Midfielders Andre and Joao Gomes and winger Jhon Arias also have interest before Monday's 19:00 GMT deadline.

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

The 2-0 defeat at the Etihad felt very different to the 4-0 loss to Manchester City back in August. Back then, Wolves looked undercooked after a poor summer window, and City cut through us far too easily.

This time City were arguably even stronger, with additions like Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo, but Wolves were more organised and harder to play through.

We still struggled to offer much going forward, and City's press often smothered us, yet we limited them to fewer clear chances and forced them to win it with two moments of real quality.

That is why the first half was so frustrating. From the moment the team sheet dropped, it felt like we were setting up to hang on rather than compete. I like Rob Edwards, but starting without a recognised number nine set the tone. Leaving both Tolu Arokodare and Jorgen Strand Larsen on the bench made us blunt.

The ball would not stick up top, so every clearance came straight back. City regained possession in seconds and it became wave after wave of pressure. Wolves stayed fairly compact, but City's quality still told and, at 2-0 down, it already felt like too much.

The sting was in the contrast after the changes. With more attacking options on the pitch, Wolves finally had some attacking intent, and we began to move upfield with purpose. This allowed Mateus Mane to make more driving runs changing the feel of the game. He carried the ball, took risks, and pushed us higher.

For the first time, Wolves asked questions rather than simply reacting. Yerson Mosquera's header clipping the bar from a corner summed up that late push: close enough to hurt, and a reminder of what might have been with a braver start.

One other note from a Wolves view: I thought the referee did well for his first Premier League match, and it was honestly refreshing to see. He did not get everything right, but he seemed calmer than many we see week to week.

Most importantly, when VAR sent him to the monitor to review a possible penalty, he stood his ground. In that stadium, in that moment, it would have been easy to give City the decision, but he did not.

No Wolves fan goes to the Etihad expecting a win. But we do want to be competitive from the first whistle, not just after half-time. The progress under Edwards is clear. Now it has to be matched with more bravery and clearer attacking intent, because even if the table looks grim, Wolves still need performances they can build on.

If relegation is coming, then Wolves cannot drift towards it. There is only one approach now: play to win every game, and go down fighting if it comes to it.

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves, external

Wolves have rejected a £6.9m bid from Roma for left-back David Moller Wolfe. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves midfielder Fer Lopez is due to return to Celta Vigo after just seven months at Molineux.

The 21-year-old has travelled to Spain to finalise a loan deal with Wolves keen for him to get game time. There is no option to buy included in the move.

Lopez has struggled to make an impact at Molineux under both former manager Vitor Pereira and replacement Rob Edwards after arriving from Celta, who are seventh in La Liga, for £19.5m in the summer.

He has made 12 appearances in all competitions but only two Premier League starts as Wolves battle at the bottom of the league.

Lopez has started just once under Edwards and was an unused substitute in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Manchester City.

Wolves are looking to refresh the squad as they plan ahead with the club expected to be relegated to the Championship.

Marshall Munetsi joined Paris FC earlier this month while Leeds' bid of around £33m, with £6m add-ons, for striker Jorgen Strand Larsen has been rejected.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Manchester City and Wolves.

Here are some of your comments:

Manchester City fans

Gene: Antoine Semenyo is a pleasure to watch - relentless and smart. Marc Guehi looked good and will help to solidify the shaky defence which has plagued this team for the past few years. More crosses into the box should result in more scoring opportunities instead of the constant cut backs. There still needs to be more attacking of the goal.

Brian: A decent days work but still far from perfect or firing on all cylinders. City need to up the gears to win the Premier League. Pep Guardiola needs to let players play in their normal creative and attacking way. The Pep model of play is now predictable. We are stronger in defence when we do not play such a high line up front.

Martin: A better performance, especially in the first half. Both scorers Omar Marmoush and Semenyo looked sharp. Wolves never troubled City and Guehi looked classy on his debut and nearly scored. A welcome three points, but City will have much sterner tests. Shoutout for Bernardo Silva who never stopped.

Youssef: Solid display by City to get back to winning ways. Really pleased with Guehi and Marmoush after his return from Afcon. Happy to see Pep giving Erling Haaland and Phil Foden a rest too.

Wolves fans

Joel: A decent performance against a City team who were always going to rebound after their last two results. However, with the 'fastest' player in the Premier League in Jackson Tchatchoua, why aren't we playing balls over a high line?

Richard: I know we were playing Manchester City, but you can't sit back and soak up the pressure because you will get punished like they did. I'd rather they took the game to City, even if the score line had been different, but we were toothless. We can't create and can't score so I do worry what will become of us in the Championship.

Mel: Very surprised at the team selection leaving Tolu Arokodare on the bench and then Jorgen Strand Larsen coming on as substitute before him? Wolves don't just lie down theses days, they show plenty of fight. Whilst we are going to be relegated this season, I believe that if we can hang on to the nucleus of the team, then we will have a very strong season that will ultimately mean an instant return!

Simon: Toothless first half. Second half subs made an impact but the damage was already done. We are going into too many matches with the wrong line-up. Rob Edwards should have got this system nailed down by now. They showed City and Pep Guardiola too much respect with no recognised striker starting.

Pundits Alan Shearer and Ashley Williams join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Manchester City 2-0 Wolves

• Burnley 2-2 Tottenham

• Bournemouth 3-2 Liverpool

Brendon Mitchell
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Making your Premier League debut at Manchester City would be a daunting prospect for anyone - even as a referee.

But 32-year-old Farai Hallam, once a professional footballer on Stevenage's books, earned widespread praise for his performance during City's 2-0 win over Wolves at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

With the hosts leading 1-0 in the first half, goalscorer Omar Marmoush was convinced the hosts should be awarded a penalty after Wanderers defender Yerson Mosquera appeared to handle the ball inside the area.

Hallam was unmoved, waving appeals away, only to then be sent to the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee (VAR) to check the incident.

We all know what that normally means. The City fans were already celebrating.

After watching several replays, however, Hallam surprised nearly everyone inside the stadium by choosing to stick with his original decision.

"After review, the ball hits the arm of the Wolves player, which is in a natural position so the on-field decision will remain," he announced over the tannoy.

Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann said it was "without doubt the correct decision".

"Hallam, officiating in his first Premier League match, made an excellent and courageous call to stick with his on-field decision of no handball," Cann told BBC Sport.

"This was without doubt the correct decision as Yerson Mosquera's arm was in a justifiable position and the ball was played on to his arm from very close range.

"A brave and correct decision in law from a highly regarded referee making his Premier League debut."

Find more punditry reaction here

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves came into this game in better form than Manchester City, unbeaten in their past four games - but that run came to a grinding halt.

Rob Edwards' men barely laid a glove on City and look doomed to playing Championship football next season, their fate seemingly sealed with 15 games still to play.

Having let in two goals in the first half, Wolves were fortunate not to concede a penalty too when the ball struck Yerson Mosquera on the arm in the box.

But referee Farai Hallam, making his Premier League debut, stuck with his original decision of no handball, having been told to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.

Wolves have been toothless in front of goal and their solitary effort on target - a tame header from Mosquera which was tipped over by Gianluigi Donnarumma - showed precisely why they have now failed to score in 12 league games this season.

Listen to Ladislav Krejci on BBC Sounds

Wolves boss Rob Edwards speaking to BBC Match of the Day after his side's defeat at Manchester City: "The timing of the two goals didn't help. That made it a difficult start for us. Coming here they can starve you and suffocate.

"We kept fighting in the second half and we were really pushing to get back into the game. There was a lot of things to take from there but ultimately it was a loss.

"They got the two goals but ultimately, we limited them to very little. We are going up against one of the best teams and away from home as well.

"We pushed right towards the end. We showed a lot of good character and quality as well."

On referee Farai Hallam sticking with his initial decision after being sent to the screen to review a handball by Yerson Mosquera: "He showed a lot of good character there. I think he made the right decision. My frustration is the fact that it got to that stage in the first place.

"I think the guys in the VAR studio should be thinking he is in a natural position, it's very close, no pen and carry on with the game and then we are not waiting for five minutes.

"He did really well, made the right decision, made the right call and it was a big call in his first Premier League game. I don't think it was a foul for their second goal but other than that he had a good game. In that moment I thought he did well."

Did you know?

• This was Rob Edwards' 50th Premier League game as a manager (38 with Luton, 12 with Wolves), and his 32nd defeat (W7 D11). Only Mick McCarthy (38) and Daniel Farke (35) have ever lost more of their first 50 matches as a manager in the competition.

Listen to Edwards on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Manchester City's performance

What did you make of Wolves' display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has sprung two major surprises by naming star striker Erling Haaland and midfielder Phil Foden as substitutes for this afternoon's meeting against bottom side Wolves.

Omar Marmoush plays up front, while Antoine Semenyo returns to the side after being cup tied for the shock Champions League loss at Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday.

There are five changes in all from that game as Marc Guehi gets a debut in central defence, in place of Max Alleyne, while Matheus Nunes returns to the side after recovering from flu.

Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rico Lewis are the other players to drop to the bench.

Man City XI: Donnarumma, Matheus Luiz, Khusanov, Guehi, O'Reilly, Rodri, Semenyo, Reijnders, Silva, Cherki, Marmoush.

Subs: Trafford, Ake, Haaland, Doku, Ait Nouri, Foden, Mukasa, Alleyne, Lewis.

Wolves make just one from the side that drew 0-0 against Newcastle last time out.

Jhon Arias comes in for Tolu Arokodare with, what looks like, a false nine formation.

Wolves XI: Jose Sa, Mosquera, Santiago Bueno, Krejci, Tchatchoua, Joao Gomes, Andre Trindade, Mane, Hugo Bueno, Arias, Hwang.

Subs: Johnstone, Doherty, Wolfe, Larsen, Agbadou, Arokodare, Pedro Lima, Rodrigo Gomes, Lopez.