Whatever happens to Alexander Isak, it’s clear that Newcastle United must bring in a striker before the summer window shuts a week on Monday.
With Callum Wilson gone, we need another forward to strengthen the one area of Eddie Howe’s squad that looks nowhere near ready to compete on four fronts over the coming season.
Wissa is clearly our top target to replace our former No. 9, but our bid to sign the 28-year-old has been anything but straightforward.
Newcastle upped their bid from £25m to £35m plus £5m in add-ons on Wednesday, yet that second offer was quickly turned down by Brentford, who are clearly playing hardball despite his best efforts to force a move, much like Isak!
Spurs were linked with a shock move last night, but it’s believed the striker remains determined to join Newcastle, and his reasons for doing so have been explained in more depth by Sky Sports’ Keith Downie.
Downie reveals that Wissa ‘only wants Newcastle’, with the club’s recent history with French-African players such as Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse and Hatem Ben Arfa thought to be a ‘big draw’ for the player.
The DR Congo star, born in the South Eastern suburbs of Paris, is also interested in becoming the next No.9 at Newcastle following Wilson’s summer exit, having one eye on the club’s iconic shirt once worn by Shearer, Cisse, Cole and Ferdinand.
Add to this our qualification for the Champions League and his chance to play a key role for a Newcastle side that were sorely lacking a striker in last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.
It’s rare this summer, but in Wissa we have a striker that’s determined to sign and ideal for that squad role should Isak reintegrate or another quality striker sign.
The question is, will Newcastle up their £40m offer or see Brentford’s demands come down, providing them agree to bring in an out and out replacement of their own?
🙏🏻 Yoane Wissa has repeatedly told Brentford hierarchy he only wants the Newcastle United move.
🇫🇷 🇨🇩 The fact that Newcastle has a rich history with French African players (Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse, Hatem Ben Arfa) is a big draw for Wissa.
9️⃣ 🙋🏻♂️ I’m told the striker has his eyes… https://t.co/1NhpKPsUc8
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) August 20, 2025