Key Points
- Gabby Agbonlahor has questioned West Ham United’s reported interest in Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, branding him part of a “team full of cowards” in criticism of Wolves’ mentality this season.
- West Ham have made an approach to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen on a permanent deal in January, with the 25-year-old identified as a solution to their problems at centre-forward.
- Strand Larsen joined Wolves permanently from Celta Vigo in the summer for around £23million after an impressive loan spell, but his second Premier League season has been marred by poor form, injury issues and a toxic relationship with sections of the fanbase.
- The Norwegian scored a late winner against West Ham in April and has previously been targeted by Newcastle United, who had offers believed to be in the £55million range rejected, underlining his perceived ceiling.
- Wolves are bottom of the Premier League and 16 points adrift, with fan protests against owners Fosun and sarcastic cheers aimed at Strand Larsen when he was substituted in a 4–1 defeat to Manchester United.
- Wolves head coach Rob Edwards has publicly urged Strand Larsen to “stay positive” and “keep your focus” after those jeers, acknowledging that the forward has been hurt by criticism but insisting he is still working hard.
- West Ham’s pursuit comes as Niclas Füllkrug is expected to leave for AC Milan on a six‑month loan worth around £54,000 a week, with Milan taking on his wages and an option to buy included in some reports.
- Füllkrug’s move is widely seen as an opportunity for the 32-year-old Germany international to revive his career after a difficult spell in East London, while freeing space in Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad and wage bill.
- West Ham’s attack has lacked a cutting edge despite more clarity of structure under Nuno, prompting the club hierarchy to prioritise the signing of at least one “quality number nine” this winter.
- Commentators suggest that landing Strand Larsen would be a “statement of intent” from the West Ham board, but also question whether Wolves will sell a player they bought only months ago, given their perilous league position.
Why is Gabby Agbonlahor confused by West Ham’s interest in Jorgen Strand Larsen?
Gabby Agbonlahor’s scepticism is rooted in his assessment of Wolves’ mentality this season and Strand Larsen’s role within a side he has described as a “team full of cowards”. In an appearance dissecting Wolves’ dreadful 2025–26 Premier League campaign, Agbonlahor railed against what he perceived as a lack of bravery and character in key moments, explicitly using the word “cowards” to underline his point.
Although Agbonlahor’s comments focused on Wolves collectively, his criticism coincides with a period in which Jorgen Strand Larsen has struggled to cope with pressure, including visible frustration at sarcastic cheers from his own supporters, and this has coloured his view of the Norwegian as a risky target. As reported by coverage of Wolves’ build‑up to a match against Tottenham Hotspur, the former England forward has already written off Wolves’ chances in high‑profile fixtures, underscoring his belief that this is not a group – or a centre‑forward – currently equipped to drag themselves, let alone another team, out of trouble.
For Agbonlahor, therefore, the idea that West Ham would single out a player he associates with a weak mentality – and a club in crisis – is puzzling, especially when the Hammers are themselves fighting to stabilise their season. His use of the “coward” label is intended to challenge the suitability of such a signing for Nuno Espírito Santo’s West Ham, rather than dismissing Strand Larsen’s technical ability outright.
What is West Ham’s reported move for Jorgen Strand Larsen?
According to transfer reporting by West Ham Zone, West Ham have “made their move” to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen in the January transfer window, with the club specifically pursuing a permanent deal rather than a short‑term loan. As reported by David Ornstein and relayed by outlets such as EPL Index, West Ham United have formally expressed interest in taking the Norway international from Wolverhampton Wanderers once the market reopens.
West Ham Zone’s transfer coverage notes that Strand Larsen has already proved his threat against the Hammers, having scored the winner when Wolves beat West Ham in April, something that has stayed in the minds of the recruitment department. The same report explains that West Ham’s interest intensified as Niclas Füllkrug’s proposed exit to AC Milan advanced, leaving a clear need for a starting‑calibre striker rather than a depth option.
Wolves, however, are in a complex position. The club only completed a £23million deal to sign Strand Larsen permanently from Celta Vigo in the summer, following an impressive loan spell in which he looked like a long‑term spearhead. With Wolves rooted at the bottom of the table and 16 points adrift, West Ham Zone highlights that it remains far from certain that Wolves will sanction a sale mid‑season, particularly to a direct Premier League rival.
How has Jorgen Strand Larsen’s situation at Wolves fuelled controversy?
Jorgen Strand Larsen’s time at Wolves has been turbulent despite flashes of obvious talent. He initially thrived on loan from Celta Vigo, earning a permanent £23million move after convincing the club he could lead the line in the Premier League. However, as reported in The Athletic’s coverage of his season, his second campaign has been undermined by an Achilles problem, poor form and external noise around his future, including interest from Newcastle United.
As reported by Luke Bosher of The Athletic, head coach Rob Edwards had to intervene publicly after Wolves supporters sarcastically applauded Strand Larsen’s substitution in a 4–1 defeat to Manchester United at Molineux, with the forward visibly stung by the reaction. Edwards told reporters that he put an arm around the striker and later urged him to “stay positive and don’t let it affect you,” stressing that the Norwegian had been “one of the players who spoke passionately” in the dressing-room and was still “putting in effort” despite a “tough evening”.
The same piece notes that Strand Larsen had privately expressed interest in a summer move to Newcastle United, something that angered sections of the Wolves fanbase and contributed to a perception that his commitment was divided. Combined with Wolves’ long winless run – stretching beyond six months in the league, according to Edwards – demonstrations against owners Fosun and a general crisis of confidence, the striker has found himself at the heart of a fraught atmosphere that critics like Agbonlahor interpret as evidence of weak character.
Why do West Ham need a new striker, and how does Niclas Füllkrug’s exit shape this?
The search for a new centre‑forward is directly linked to Niclas Füllkrug’s expected departure from the London Stadium in January. West Ham Zone report that AC Milan have reached an agreement in principle to sign the Germany international on a six‑month deal, with the transfer “green light” anticipated within days once the winter window opens.
As outlined by Italian outlet Calciomercato and summarised in West Ham Zone’s coverage, Füllkrug will earn about £54,000 per week in Milan, with the Serie A club set to pay him around £1.3million over the course of the loan and assume his full salary. Further reporting collated by TransferFeed from sources including Bild, Sky Sport Germany and Fabrizio Romano indicates that the agreement includes an option – and in some versions, a potential obligation – for Milan to buy the 32‑year‑old for a fee in the region of €13–15million at season’s end.
The German striker’s stint in East London has been widely described as a “nightmare” spell, with limited minutes and minimal impact in front of goal prompting all parties to see a January exit as the best way to revive his career. For West Ham, his departure opens up significant room on the wage bill and in the squad, but also leaves a clear gap at the top of the pitch that Nuno Espírito Santo and the club hierarchy want to fill with a “quality number nine” capable of leading the attack immediately.
How big a gamble would Strand Larsen be for West Ham?
From a financial perspective, Strand Larsen would represent a substantial outlay and a clear bet on upside rather than guaranteed output. West Ham Zone note that Newcastle United had bids believed to be around £55million turned down by Wolves in the summer, a figure that indicates how highly Wolves value the Norwegian despite his current struggles. Any realistic deal in January is therefore expected to require a major fee, even if Wolves soften their stance because of the player’s form and the club’s precarious position.
On a tactical level, analysis from West Ham–focused sites such as WestHamWorld describes West Ham’s interest as an attempt to add a forward who can both finish chances and act as a focal point in an increasingly structured side under Nuno. The Hammers’ attack has often looked blunt despite creative contributions from wide players like Jarrod Bowen, and internal briefs suggest the recruitment team see a striker of Strand Larsen’s profile – tall, mobile, capable in the air and on the deck – as a fit for their evolving system.
Yet it is precisely Strand Larsen’s recent form and off‑pitch baggage that fuels Agbonlahor’s and others’ reservations. With Wolves bottom of the league and protests swirling, some pundits question whether importing a player at the eye of that storm is wise for a West Ham side desperate for immediate impact rather than a long bedding‑in period. For critics, that makes the move look like a high‑risk gamble; for the club, it may be seen as a calculated opportunity to buy a distressed asset whose value has dipped well below last summer’s rejected offers.
What happens next in this transfer saga?
As transfer reporters emphasise, talks over Strand Larsen remain at an exploratory stage, with West Ham’s interest clear but no agreement yet in place with Wolves. The timing of Füllkrug’s expected departure to AC Milan is likely to act as a trigger for West Ham to intensify negotiations, as they will not want to leave themselves short heading into a crucial run of fixtures in the second half of the season.
For Wolves, the equation is more complicated. On one hand, cashing in on a player whose relationship with fans has fractured and whose form has dipped could provide funds and room for a reset in a squad battling relegation. On the other, selling a starting striker mid‑season when rooted to the foot of the table carries obvious sporting risks, particularly if suitable replacements are not lined up.
As this develops, Agbonlahor’s pointed remarks ensure that any progress on the deal will unfold under a spotlight on character as much as quality. If West Ham do proceed and ultimately land Strand Larsen, the Norwegian will arrive not just tasked with scoring the goals to keep his new club safe, but with disproving the “coward” tag that has become an unwelcome part of his narrative this season.
