Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen expected to miss Everton clash amid ongoing transfer saga

Newcastle United have had two bids bids of £50million and £55million rejected for him, with Wolves insisting the striker is not for sale in this transfer window.

Larsen has been playing with a painful Achilles knock and is not with the Wolves team in their pre-match hotel tonight.

But when asked if the Norwegian was refusing to play, Pereira said: "No, never."

He added: "The Jorgen that I know has a good personality, he's a very good player.

"This is a situation where everyone is talking about the same subject, but at the end of the day he cannot control the situation.

"He must focus on the team, to do his best to help the club. I'm trying to focus on the team to do my best.

"We'll see, until the end of the market, but it's not my decision and it's not his decision. We must focus on what we can control.

"We can control our commitment, to keep our level and this is the way. He's our player.

"I respect him a lot and he respects me a lot.

"We have a very good relationship. It's about me, it's about a situation that he must deal with."

Newcastle are still keen on signing Larsen, but it remains to be seen if they will make another bid in an effort to test Wolves' resolve, particularly now that they have signed German forward Nick Woltemade.

"We know that everyone has ambitions in life, but at this moment Jorgen is our player," Pereira said.

"He's working hard because he has a good personality and he's a team player.

"He's dealing with a small injury problem and I hope he can play (against Everton), but at the end of the day he's our player, an important player for us.

"Things that are out of our control, we cannot lose energy with that.

"It's the moment to think about the team. My focus is on the team."

The head coach has also consistently said he only wants players at Wolves who are keen to be at the club.

And when asked for any comparisons to the situation with former player Mario Lemina, Pereira insists they cannot be likened.

"They are very different situations," he said.

"Since the first day I arrived at the club, Mario said to me that he would not play for the club. This is a different message.

"This is a completely different situation. You work as a journalist and if one of the best companies in the world comes to you, you will have contact with your company. This is the situation.

"Jorgen cannot decide because he has a contract, so he needs to focus to play at his best level and I'll wait until the end of the market."