From rejection to retaliation — Newcastle aren’t taking no for an answer, storming back with a blockbuster £55m bid just days after their opening £50m move was shut down. The saga is heating up, and the pressure’s shifting fast.

Newcastle have come back swinging with a £55m bid after Wolves knocked back their opening £50m approach earlier in the week.

But Wolves are digging in. The club have no intention of selling star striker Jørgen Strand Larsen with the window closing on Monday — not only because of the lack of time to secure a replacement, but also because of how vital the Norwegian is to their Premier League survival fight.

The Magpies’ urgency stems from Alexander Isak’s stand-off with the club, as the Sweden international pushes for a Liverpool move and has yet to feature this season.

Strand Larsen, signed permanently from Celta Vigo for £23m this summer after a successful loan, showed his worth on Tuesday night — coming off the bench to fire two late goals in Wolves’ 3-2 EFL Cup comeback against West Ham.

Manager Vítor Pereira admitted he wants the 25-year-old to stay but didn’t completely shut the door on a deal:
“Football is football, and every player has a price — even Messi or Cristiano. If it’s my decision, of course he stays. He is very important for us.”

While Newcastle remains a tempting destination, Pereira praised Strand Larsen’s professionalism, insisting the forward will not force an exit despite outside interest.

Still, with Isak’s situation destabilising the Magpies and failed pursuits of Porto’s Samu Aghehowa (£60m) and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa (£40m) already on record, Newcastle are running out of options.

For Wolves, though, cashing in is a dangerous gamble. Strand Larsen’s 14 league goals last season were crucial to survival, and losing him now could threaten everything Pereira has built.

The real question is whether Newcastle can stomach paying over £60m for a striker Wolves value beyond money — or if desperation forces their hand in the final days of the window.