Better than Strand Larsen: £30m CF becomes a target for Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest are in serious need of investment during the winter window to try and secure survival in the Premier League come the end of the campaign.
Sean Dyche’s men are just a smattering of points above the relegation zone, with a real need to improve the situation within the attacking third of the pitch.
The Reds have only scored just 21 times in the first 21 league outings of the campaign, the third-lowest in the division, with only 19th placed Burnley and 20th placed Wolves having scored fewer.
Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi are the two senior options currently at the manager’s disposal, with Chris Wood on the sidelines and Arnaud Kalimuendo set to leave on loan.
As a result, a new centre-forward will surely be on the cards this January, but completing deals during such a period is notoriously a tough challenge to navigate.
Nottingham Forest making a move to land a new centre-forward
Over the last couple of days, Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen has emerged as a potential target for Forest this month, but they aren’t alone in their pursuit of his signature.
Newcastle United are just one of the other Premier League teams in the race for his signature, with Everton also closely monitoring the Norwegian’s progress.
However, any deal for the 25-year-old would likely be an expensive one, with Rob Edwards’ men currently demanding a fee in the region of £40m to offload their main striker.
He’s not the only option currently in the Reds’ sights at present, with Napoli talisman Lorenzo Lucca another option currently being considered by the hierarchy at present.
According to one Italian outlet, Dyche’s side are just one of a handful of European outfits currently considering a move for the 25-year-old who’s made 14 Serie A appearances this campaign.
The report states that he’s unhappy with his lack of starts under Antonio Conte, which has led to a £30m price tag being mooted for his signature this month.
Why Lucca would’ve a better signing than Strand Larsen
The interest over a deal for Strand Larsen has created intrigue at Forest, especially considering he currently plays for a team within the Premier League relegation zone.
In the 2025/26 campaign, the 25-year-old has only netted one goal, also struggling to find the form that would be needed to get his current side out of any relegation trouble.
However, he’s previously shown he can produce the levels needed in England’s top-flight, as seen by his impressive tally of 14 goals in his 35 appearances last time around.
£40m for a player of his inconsistent nature would be a huge gamble from the ownership, especially when such a deal would break the club’s record transfer.
As a result, a move for Lucca could prove to make more sense, with the striker’s 6’7 frame potentially being the perfect fit for Dyche’s long-ball system in place at the City Ground.
Like Strand Larsen, he’s also only netted one league goal this campaign, but it’s his underlying figures that would make him a better addition during the coming weeks.
When comparing such stats, he’s massively outperformed the Wolves star in various key areas, showcasing why he would be a more suitable signing.
Lucca, who’s been dubbed one of “the best forwards” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has posted a better shot on target accuracy rate in front of goal this season.
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Whilst he’s scored the same number of goals as Strand Larsen, such numbers showcase that he’s more threatening and has more of a nouse to get the ball in trouble areas in the final third.
How Lucca & Strand Larsen compare in 2025/26
Statistics (per 90)
Lucca
Strand Larsen
Games played
14
18
Goals scored
1
1
Shot on target accuracy
39%
29%
Pass accuracy
80%
63%
Key passes
0.8
0.3
Take-on success
67%
38%
Carries into opposition box
0.9
0.2
Aerials won
47%
41%
Fouls won
2.7
0.7
Stats via FBref
Away from his goalscoring exploits, he’s also dominated with his all-round play, as seen by his higher tally of passes completed, with more of which being defined as key passes.
He’s also completed more take-ons and achieved a higher tally of carries into the opposition penalty area, showcasing his ability to create chances out of nothing.
His aerial ability is another important bonus to his game, with the Italian winning more aerial battles and drawing more fouls than Strand Larsen this campaign.
Whilst neither player possesses a hugely clinical skillset, it’s evident that Lucca would be a phenomenal addition and one that could offer Dyche a new dimension.
His height and physicality is something which the Reds have lacked so far this campaign, with such a move handing the side an added boost in their hunt for survival.
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ByEthan Lamb