Yoane Wissa was one of Nottingham Forest’s primary targets in January, and with the sales of Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga, the club look set to reignite their pursuit.
Even before the two major sales, Forest were keen on targeting Wissa again after January’s failed move, but the loss of two of Nuno Espírito Santo’s top stars will have mobilised the plans.
In fact, reports that Forest had made a bid for Wissa surfaced quickly after Gibbs-White’s £60m release clause was triggered, indicating how serious Evangelos Marinakis is about adequately replacing the two attacking talents.
Reports are now suggesting that Wissa is actively pushing for a move away from Brentford, with Nottingham Forest News providing the latest on the Reds’ stance with Graeme Bailey.
Yoane Wissa celebrates after Brentford beat Bournemouth.
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Where Nottingham Forest stand as Yoane Wissa demands exit
According to talkSPORT, Wissa is now actively looking to leave The Bees, with Forest being the only club known to have made a bid for the Congolese international thus far.
According to transfer expert Bailey, though, there remain two other Premier League sides in the hunt for the 28-year-old.
He said: “Talks with Yoane Wissa are continuing, but Tottenham and Newcastle remain involved in that.”
MORE FOREST STORIES
It would be brutal for Forest to miss out on Wissa to either of the named clubs, given that Gibbs-White is heading to Tottenham and Newcastle are set to sign Elanga.
In more positive news, though, it seems that Brentford’s £50m valuation of Wissa may not be as set in stone as first feared.
Brentford’s £50m Yoane Wissa price tag could be ‘negotiated’
Brentford wanted £40m for Wissa in January, but given the likelihood that Bryan Mbeumo will be heading off to Manchester United, it makes sense that they’d charge a premium in an attempt to keep their other top striker.
However, according to the talkSPORT report, those interested in the 19-goal man believe that this valuation is up for discussion.
The report said: “Brentford have slapped a £50million price tag on Wissa, but interested parties believe they can be negotiated down.”
It may be then that the fee ends up around that £40m January valuation, which would put Wissa at an affordable price given the two sales, but still one that would be a significant outlay for a player that doesn’t necessarily fit the gaps left in the Forest squad.