Brentford will journey to Nottingham Forest lacking forward Yoane Wissa this weekend, newly appointed head coach Keith Andrews has stated.
The Bees have already seen the departure of former manager Thomas Frank to Tottenham Hotspur this summer, Christian Norgaard’s transfer to Arsenal and Bryan Mbeumo’s move to Manchester United, but another significant sale could still be on the horizon.
Wissa is believed to be feeling unsettled in West London and is aiming for a transfer to St. James’ Park. As it stands, Brentford’s stance in negotiations has made it challenging to finalize an agreement, although Newcastle and the player remain hopeful that a transfer can be completed before the September 1 deadline.
Yoane Wissa excluded from Nottingham Forest match
Speaking prior to this weekend’s Premier League match, new Bees head coach Andrews confirmed Wissa would not be included in the squad to play Forest.
“We’ve reached the conclusion that he won’t be involved,” he stated. “His pre-season has been significantly impacted by the interest from [Newcastle]. The message is unambiguous, I want him here, I want him integrated into the first-team squad. I foresee that happening, but I fully appreciate his current situation.
“Our priority must be the players who are mentally and physically prepared to compete on Sunday, and Yoane isn’t currently in that frame of mind,” Andrews explained, as quoted by the London Evening Standard.
Newcastle’s initial offer of £25 million for the Congolese international was turned down earlier this summer, but it is anticipated that the north-east club will renew their pursuit during the remaining weeks of the transfer window.
The Magpies are nearing the acquisition of Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey for a fee reported to be approximately £39m, with a potential £5m in additional payments, according to various sources.
Defender Malick Thiaw was recently confirmed as the club’s newest addition, joining from AC Milan on a long-term contract.
It is believed that any potential agreement for Wissa will be dependent on Brentford securing a suitable replacement for the 28-year-old, with AFC Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara being mentioned as a possible target for the West London club.
The Brentford forward has an estimated market value of €32m according to Transfermarkt.
