Crystal Palace's £50 million bid for Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen hangs in the balance, as the Eagles have reportedly decided to back out of the deal. The two Premier League clubs had initially agreed on a principle for the 25-year-old Norwegian forward's move to Selhurst Park, contingent on Palace submitting a formal written offer for his services. However, this offer, expected to arrive on Thursday, has yet to materialize, and sources suggest Wolves have been informed that Palace no longer wishes to proceed. The question remains whether this is a strategic negotiation tactic aimed at securing a lower fee. The potential collapse of the Strand Larsen transfer could have significant implications for Jean-Philippe Mateta's anticipated departure from Selhurst Park before the transfer deadline on Monday. The 28-year-old French striker has expressed his desire to leave this month, and Palace is increasingly open to accommodating his request. Nottingham Forest has already had a £35 million offer rejected by Palace and is expected to intensify its efforts to sign Mateta in the coming days. Other clubs, including Juventus and AC Milan, have also shown concrete interest in the striker. Mateta's preference is to play in the Champions League, but he remains open to a move to the City Ground. Palace, however, is seeking a replacement before allowing Mateta to depart and is set to sign versatile attacker Evann Guessand on loan from Aston Villa. The uncertainty lies in whether Palace will prioritize a new recognized center-forward before letting Mateta go. Meanwhile, Forest has made a £20 million bid for Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari, though it is anticipated to be rejected.
