YOANE WISSA is pushing to leave Brentford to join Newcastle so he can realise his Champions League dream.
The Magpies are keen on the DR Congo striker and had a £25million bid rejected for him last week.
They are believed to value Wissa, 28, at around £30m, which is below the Bees’ valuation.
Brentford do not need to sell having already flogged Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United for £71m.
They were not planning on letting all their big-hitters go this summer, having already sold Christian Norgaard to Arsenal for £11m and lost head coach Thomas Frank to Spurs, along with several backroom staff.
But that does not mean they have ruled out selling Wissa and at this point SunSport understands all options are open.
Wissa, who scored 19 Premier League goals last season, wants to play in Europe’s elite club competition and joining Newcastle would make that happen.
But a senior Bees source last night played down reports that the former Lorient man had threatened not to play for the club again if he is not allowed to move to Tyneside.
Wissa was allowed to leave Brentford’s training camp in Portugal on Tuesday as he was struggling with the speculation over his future.
He has been training back at the club’s West London complex on his own but it remains to be seen if he will take part in team training when Keith Andrews’ squad returns.
Wissa has 11 months remaining on his contract at the G-tech, but Brentford hold an option of a further year.
Brentford were already planning on signing a replacement for Mbeumo and would be forced to dip into the market for another forward on top of that if Wissa is granted his Toon wish.
Newcastle are assessing several forward options, amid the bombshell revelation earlier this week that Alexander Isak wants to leave.
Eddie Howe’s side are targeting RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko as a potential replacement for Isak.
But with Callum Wilson having also departed this summer, Newcastle are on the lookout for a secondary option to either Isak or Sesko.
In addition to Sesko, the Mail claim that Chelsea ace Jackson is on Newcastle’s list.
The 24-year-old has scored 30 goals in 81 appearances for the Blues across the last two seasons, but could be made available for the right price this summer.
Newcastle could face competition for Jackson’s signature from Manchester united.
While SunSport exclusively revealed this week that the Senegalese ace has turned down approaches from Napoli and AC Milan.
In addition to Wissa, Sesko and Jackson, Ollie Watkins is admired by Newcastle.
Aston Villa aren’t thought to be keen on selling the England international this summer, but it remains to be seen whether a big-money bid could change their stance.
Read the full article here