The battle for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa is heating up, and Newcastle have made their first move for the Tottenham target.
We're edging towards a mass exodus in west London this summer in the aftermath of our appointment of Thomas Frank. The Bees have also lost skipper Christian Norgaard to Arsenal and star attacker Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United, leaving novice new manager Keith Andrews with a daunting challenge in year one.
There had been suggestions that Brentford would be unwilling to lose both Mbeumo and Wissa off the back of their excellent 2024–25 campaign as a tandem. Together, the pair combined for 39 Premier League goals, having seen Ivan Toney jump ship for Saudi cash the previous summer.
Newcastle have first bid rejected for Tottenham target Yoane Wissa
🚨 Newcastle United make offer to Brentford for Yoane Wissa. Bid worth £25m rejected by #BrentfordFC but #NUFC pursuit ongoing + personal terms for 28yo forward no issue if moves evolves. Congo int’l back in London for talks with club bosses @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/TrJt8GMxkj
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 22, 2025
Frank's appointment sparked rumours of several reunions in N17 this summer, and Wissa remains on Spurs' radar. However, any pursuit of the DR Congo international is likely to depend on the future of Richarlison, with Dominic Solanke pencilled in as the starting centre-forward.
There's certainly an interest in Wissa, but competition is rife for the 28-year-old's signature off the back of a career year. Nottingham Forest had a £25m bid rejected earlier in the window, and David Ornstein reports that Newcastle have now been rebuffed by Brentford, having also offered £25m.
Sky Sports' Keith Downie understands that a second bid from the Magpies is imminent, believed to be worth £30m plus add-ons.
If Frank wants to reunite, Spurs must start to show some urgency. It seems as if Wissa would like to remain in London and link-up with his former boss in N17, but he can't wait for us all summer when he has another proposal from a Champions League club on the table.
Exc: Yoane Wissa leaves Brentford’s training camp in Portugal amid uncertainty over future. Wissa said to be unsettled by speculation with Newcastle, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest interested. Key meeting with DOF Phil Giles. #NUFC interest accelerating. https://t.co/qjCIxtELe7
— Sami Mokbel (@SamiMokbel_BBC) July 22, 2025
Earlier in the day, the BBC's Sami Mokbel reported that the "unsettled" striker had left Brentford's training camp in Portugal early to hold talks with Director of Football Phil Giles over his future.
It now seems likely that the Bees will be pushed to letting go of their two leading scorers from last season, with Newcastle currently in the front seat for Wissa's signature. The 28-year-old is not a profile I'll be losing sleep over if he lands elsewhere, but it's easy to see the appeal.
Wissa's familiarity with Frank and his proven Premier League track record means Spurs could do a whole lot worse for what would likely be a rather modest fee. However, for me, this one only makes sense if Richarlison departs.