Fan column: Wolves' sale of Jorgen Strand Larsen right for all parties

His contribution to our survival last season should in no way be overlooked; 14 Premier League goals in a struggling team meant that he completely fulfilled the role he was purchased to provide. 

His partnership with Matheus Cunha absolutely pivotal to Wolves comfortably avoiding a flirtation with relegation. Cunha’s departure and the blocking of a pre-season move to Newcastle conspired to see a drastically reduced input this season. 

So much so that many fans openly questioned his commitment and indeed, at times his body-language and his lack of a competitive edge seemed to indicate a player ill at ease and distant from the team objective. A solitary penalty goal, his sum-total for the campaign; his inability to remotely replicate even a smidgen of his form from last season, a major contributor to the wretched plight we are currently enduring. 

In hindsight, Wolves must regret rebuffing the hugely inflationary price Newcastle were prepared to pay in the summer but they had little choice. The club already derided for their uninspiring transfer policy simply couldn’t get away with cashing-in on another important asset without a suitable replacement. 

In reality, Strand Larsen spectacularly failed to deliver, becoming increasingly disaffected and isolated from the fan-base. From the moment Wolves blocked any move to the north-east, he was a spent force at Molineux. 

His departure demonstrably satisfies both club and player; Wolves pocket a remarkably healthy profit, Strand Larsen has a fresh start with the chance to show that his first season with Wolves wasn’t the pinnacle of his achievements. 

He scored some vital goals for us; I hated it when he was barracked regardless of his decline. His departure surely won’t be the last.

The arrival of Angel Gomes and Adam Armstrong is maybe the first step towards a comprehensive reshaping of the squad. Armstrong has a decent scoring record in Championship football and is recruited pragmatically for that purpose. Approaching 29, a likely short-term investment employed to impact effectively in the second tier. 

The Gomes deal is intriguing; very recently an England player, his future appeared to be destined for far loftier heights than the Championship. His career appears to have stalled at Marseille, but still only 25 and obviously talented, it seems strange that a cut-price entry to a significantly lower level beckons. Fascinating to see how this move develops.