Palace want £50m Strand Larsen as Forest chase Mateta

Crystal Palace have agreed a deal in principle worth in the region of £50m to sign Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, as Nottingham Forest prepare an improved offer for Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Sources have told BBC Sport that Palace’s interest in the 25-year-old striker has intensified in the past 24 hours and a formal bid is now set to be submitted.

Palace broke their club record with a £35m move for Wales forward Brennan Johnson earlier this month but Strand Larsen’s arrival would surpass that deal.

Wolves are open to selling the Norway international this month provided they get a fee close to the £55m they rejected from Newcastle for the striker during the summer transfer window.

Leeds have already seen an offer of £40m rejected by Wolves, and as things stand the Elland Road club are reluctant to go much higher.

Juventus and AC Milan are among the clubs to have shown a concrete interest in the France international.

Mateta is understood to want to play Champions League football, but a move to Forest is understood to be a financially lucrative option for the 28-year-old and sources are indicating that Forest intend to accelerate their interest.

The two clubs face each other in the Premier League on Sunday and no agreement is expected before then.

Palace are also close to the loan signing of Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand.

The Eagles, who looked at signing the 24-year-old last summer, are set to take Guessand until the end of the season in a deal that will give them an option to buy.

Guessand has scored twice in 26 Villa appearances – both in the Europa League – having struggled to establish himself in his favoured central striker position.

The £18.25m arrival of Tammy Abraham from Besiktas this week also leaves him as likely third choice behind Abraham and Ollie Watkins.

And although the Ivory Coast international has been happy to fight for his place at Villa Park, he is expected to leave.