With the summer transfer window entering its final two weeks, Newcastle’s striker situation looks set to be a major talking point for the next fortnight.
Yesterday, we saw some worrying updates in the Yoane Wissa saga, which is now at risk of becoming another time-consuming waste of time if Brentford’s latest demands deny the player a move.
Wissa’s behaviour has been questionable – he deleted all association to Brentford on social media yesterday and has previously refused to play or train – but two reports on Monday night suggest he is rebelling with good reason.
Sky Sports report that the ‘angry’ 28-year-old is adamant that Brentford are ‘being difficult’ about an exit, which he has been discussing internally since the turn of the year.
Brentford sources are denying the idea that assurances were offered to him over his sale, and are instead refusing to sell unless their hefty asking price is matched.
This brings us to Craig Hope’s update for The Mail, which reveals that the Bees have now placed a £50m price tag on the player’s head, sparking fury on the player’s side.
He reports that Wissa was promised a move 12 months ago, leading to outrage on his side a full season and 19 goals later, with his camp feeling Brentford’s latest demands risk derailing the move to Newcastle’s he’s been holding out for.
Wissa expected movement to follow after Dango Ouattara’s £42.5m arrival from Bournemouth last week. Instead, it seems progress has been stifled due to Brentford’s price tag, which may have gone up based on Newcastle’s desperate need for a striker after Saturday’s stalemate.
Equally, Brentford’s 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest may have also raised alarm bells on Sunday, strengthening fears they could be in a relegation scrap this season if Wissa follows Frank, Mbeumo and Norgaard out of the exit door.
Sources close to the deal ‘still confident of progress’, although Alexander Isak’s hopes of landing a move away will take another major setback should no breakthrough following on Wissa; the Callum Wilson replacement that is required regardless of Isak.
Much like the Isak saga, it’s another absolute mess that’s costing us precious time. Two strikers signing and a big Liverpool bid are needed to sanction the Swede’s sale. Yet, at this rate, Newcastle are finding it hard to sign just one!
We want ‘top dollar’ for Isak but we seem to want to pay ‘Primark’ prices for top talent? At some stage we have to pay the price as clubs know we are desperate up top and even if we get Wissa we need another CF but this should have been rectified last window!
Peter Taylor(Quote)
Peter Taylor :-
You can’t say we are looking to pay Primark prices when we out bid Manure for Sesko, offered the same prices for Delap and Pedro, the issue is the wages we can offer due to PSR, and apart from wanting to “win things” which is supposed to be reason for Isak wanting to leave I strongly suspect it’s the agent and Isak wanting more money.
We are also chasing a limited number of strikers who can actually improve us.
Joseph(Quote)
We either pay something near to what Brentford want or walkaway due to the time and complications involving this deal!
Howe needs to go abroad because every striker we are linked with in this country is problematic to do:
Watkins: Villa won’t want to sell and only a huge bid would have a chance, not worth it for a 30 year old.
Wissa: we know all about with another big bid required which is not worth it for a player approaching 29 years old.
A deal for him is going to take too much time!
Add to the fact we would be acquiring Isak Mark 2 in terms of his attitude
Strand-Larsen: too late in the window for Wolves to source a replacement for a player who may be the difference between them staying in the division.
Nicolas Jackson: Chelsea want a huge fee for a player who is nowhere as good as the money being touted along with discipline and temperament problems.
Howe doesn’t do himself any favours in his pursuits of unsuitable unattainable targets especially in England!
X.Y,WHY,MAN.(Quote)