Newcastle United have received a fresh glimmer of hope in their quest to secure the signature of Yoane Wissa, as rumours abound that the unsettled Brentford forward has declared he will no longer feature for the club.
The Magpies are on the hunt for a new striker this summer, undeterred by the situation surrounding Alexander Isak, with Wissa remaining at the forefront of their wish list. Yet, their efforts have been met with complications, as Brentford appear unwilling to easily part ways with the Congolese international.
Despite Newcastle tabling an offer that included a verbal bid of £30 million plus an additional £5 million in add-ons after an initial £25 million bid was rejected, Brentford have held firm, setting a steep demand of around £50 million for the 29-year-old. Such a figure casts doubt on the likelihood of a deal being struck under current conditions.
Renowned transfer journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that Wissa views a move to Newcastle as potentially his final opportunity to taste Champions League football. Jacobs noted on social media platform X, “Yoane Wissa is still holding out for a move to Newcastle. Brentford informed Newcastle to pay £50 million+ or walk away. Wissa believes a verbal agreement last year assured his exit this summer for £26 million, which he feels Brentford has now reneged on.”
Jacobs further elaborated that Newcastle’s bid has exceeded last year’s verbal agreement, and at 29, Wissa sees this as potentially his sole chance to compete in the elite European competition. Meanwhile, interest from NEOM SC has surfaced, though Wissa remains determined to prioritise Newcastle or another Champions League-worthy club.
Recent updates on GiveMeSport from Jacobs and colleague Daniel Feliciano state that Wissa is resolute in his desire to depart Brentford and has communicated his refusal to play for the club any longer.
As Newcastle shift focus to alternative targets temporarily, including potential interest from Tottenham, Wissa is reportedly “furious,” feeling misled by Brentford after they allegedly reneged on the prior agreement made the previous summer.
Brentford, however, refute claims of breaking any pact regarding Wissa’s transfer for €30 million (£26 million) and are staunch in their quest to retain him, particularly after the sale of Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United earlier in the window.
The tug-of-war over Wissa’s future remains an intriguing subplot in what has already been a dramatic summer transfer window, with all eyes now fixated on whether Newcastle can clinch the deal they so eagerly pursue.
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