Newcastle have seen an improved offer of £40million for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa rejected.
The Toon have ramped up their interest in the Bees’ wantaway striker with the 28-year-old understood to be determined to seal a move away from west London before the window slams shut.
However, his wait will continue after Brentford turned down Newcastle’s second offer for Wissa – having previously seen a £30m bid rebuffed.
According to The Athletic, sources at Brentford have spikily refuted claims they have told interested parties they value Wissa at £50m, insisting no target price has been stated.
Newcastle remain in direct communication and hopeful of progress, with Wissa at the Bees’ training ground awaiting updates.
Wissa has deleted all references to Brentford on his Instagram account, and unfollowed them, in a sign of his desire to leave.
Newcastle have seen an improved offer for wantaway Brentford striker Yoane Wissa rejected
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The 28-year-old did not play for the Bees in their opening-weekend 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest and has been training away from the first-team squad.
Wissa believes that, 12 months ago, the club agreed he could move on this summer, and he expects them to honour that promise.
Brentford have been reluctant to sell Wissa, who scored 20 goals in all competitions last season, particularly after losing Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United for £71m.
But the acquisition of Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth for a club record fee of £42.5m makes the idea of parting ways with the Congolese forward more palatable.
Newcastle are in the market for at least one, and ideally two, strikers as they look to shore up their attack.
Callum Wilson left upon the expiry of his contract and the Alexander Isak saga has made it a difficult summer for the club.
If the Wissa deal does not happen, it would have a knock-on effect on Isak’s hopes of joining Liverpool, with the Swede currently on strike and training away from his team-mates.
Newcastle will not sanction that move without signing two strikers, and so far they have failed to add any this summer.
They have missed out on Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko, but their search continues.
Newcastle have no intention of selling Isak, especially not after the statement he released on Tuesday night accusing them of ‘broken promises’.
Toon manager Eddie Howe wants to sign at least one striker this transfer window, if not two
Newcastle are adamant that they want to keep Alexander Isak, who is determined to join Liverpool
Daily Mail Sport revealed last month that Isak and his camp were furious last summer when new sporting director Paul Mitchell told them he would not be getting a new contract.
Previous co-owner Amanda Staveley had discussed improved terms with them in the spring, believing he was worth and due a pay rise.
That led to a feeling of resentment and Isak’s mind was made up that he wanted to move on, informing the club at the end of last season of his intention to leave.
‘I’ve kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken,’ he wrote on his Instagram account.
‘That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn’t reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors.
‘The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading.
‘When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue. That’s where things are for me right now and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself.’
Newcastle later hit back with a statement of their own, insisting they had listened to and tried to facilitate his wishes, before adding that they now expect to welcome him back into the squad.
‘We are disappointed to have been alerted to a social media post by Alexander Isak this evening,’ the club said. ‘We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer.
‘We want to keep our best players, but we also understand players have their own wishes and we listen to their views. As explained to Alex and his representatives, we must always take into consideration the best interests of Newcastle United, the team and our supporters in all decisions and we have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired. We do not foresee those conditions being met.
‘This is a proud football club with proud traditions and we strive to retain our family feel. Alex remains part of our family and will be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his teammates.’
