Newcastle United are preparing to make an improved bid of about £30million for Yoane Wissa after the Brentford forward left the London club’s training camp in Portugal.
Brentford rejected Newcastle’s opening £25million offer for the forward, who scored 19 Premier League goals last season and is also being monitored by Nottingham Forest, who could rival Newcastle for his signature.
Brentford have not put a valuation on Wissa, who will turn 29 in September, but he is likely to cost at least in the region of £40million. He has a year left on his contract but Brentford have the option to extend it by one season until 2027.
Newcastle are believed to be favourites to sign him, though the two clubs are thought to be a significant way apart in terms of a fee. Tottenham Hotspur could also match his personal terms and like the forward, who played under their new head coach Thomas Frank for four years at Brentford, but do not consider his position a priority after the recent £55million signing of Mohammed Kudus. Forest were willing to pay about £25million for Wissa in January and may now follow Newcastle in increasing their offer. He has also been offered to both Chelsea and Arsenal.
Wissa wants to follow Frank out of the exit doors at the Gtech Community Stadium
AFP
It has emerged that Wissa left Brentford’s Portuguese training camp last weekend. He is thought to have asked to leave because of the speculation around his future. Brentford, at this point, still expect him to be part of their squad when they return home.
Wissa, who joined Brentford from the French club Lorient in 2021, wants to leave, despite the club offering him a new contract, and has been unsettled by the speculation. The DR Congo forward is expected to report to Brentford’s training ground when the squad return to west London. They play away to Portuguese Primeira Liga side Gil Vicente on Friday followed by friendlies at Queens Park Rangers on August 2 and at home to German side Borussia Mönchengladbach on August 8.
They start their Premier League campaign away to Nottingham Forest nine days later before hosting Aston Villa on August 23. Newcastle start their season at Villa Park on August 16 and then host champions Liverpool nine days later.
Wissa’s Brentford strike partner Bryan Mbeumo left to join Manchester United this week, while captain Christian Norgaard has moved to Arsenal.
