Newcastle have reportedly agreed to pay Brentford £55million in exchange for Yoane Wissa after approving Alexander Isak’s transfer to Liverpool. The Magpies have been planning for life without Isak, who has dug his heels in over a move to Anfield this summer.
Newcastle have endured a difficult summer, with Isak missing his side’s tour of Asia with a “minor thigh injury” before telling club chiefs he has no intention of reintegrating with his team-mates. The Magpies owners visited his home at the start of last week but were reportedly told once again by Isak that he wants to leave. Newcastle have been chasing two strikers to fill the void that Isak’s departure will create. And it appears the north east giants have got their way, with Nick Woltemade also joining the Magpies from Stuttgart over the weekend for a club record transfer fee.
Isak’s impending departure and Newcastle’s focus on finding suitable replacements appear to have had an impact on Eddie Howe’s side this season, with the team picking up just two points from their opening three Premier League matches.
But Newcastle could go into the international break with a clean slate if their transfer activities conclude in the expected manner today.
According to transfer expert Fabrizo Romano, Newcastle and Brentford have verbally agreed a deal for Wissa to move to St James’ Park.
Brentford have accepted a formal proposal from the two-time Premier League runners-up, with the overall package said to be worth £55m. And Wissa is on his way to the north east for a medical before the transfer is finalised.
Wissa hasn’t featured for Brentford this season amid his transfer links to Newcastle. But ahead of the Bees’ Carabao Cup victory over Bournemouth last week, Brentford boss Keith Andrews insisted he expected the 28-year-old to remain in west London.
“What goes on is going on at every single club I imagine, up and down the land, the disruptive nature of it. But the focus is on the group tomorrow,” he explained.
“So, Yoane won’t be involved. But as far as I’m concerned, there’s been no movement in any way and fully expect Yoane to be here come next Tuesday.”
And Andrews doubled down on his position before Brentford lost to Sunderland in the league on Saturday.
“Copy and paste really from the other day, the exact same answer,” he stated. “Nothing has changed in terms of my stance and I don’t see any movement. It’s very much the same as it was really.”
He added: “I still feel that [he will stay]. The football club in general want to hold on to Yoane, going back to the type of player he is, the person he is. I certainly don’t want to lose Yoane.”
