Wissa asks Brentford to 'keep word' & allow Newcastle move

Yoane Wissa has been left out of Brentford's matchday squads this season

Striker Yoane Wissa has called on Brentford to "keep their word" and let him leave before the transfer deadline, accusing the club of "unduly standing in his way" of a move to Newcastle United.

With two days of the transfer window remaining, the DR Congo international is furious the west London club are refusing to sell him to Newcastle, who have had two offers rejected - the latest being £35m guaranteed, plus a further £5m in add-ons.

In a statement on social media on Sunday, Wissa said he had "repeated promises" from the club he could leave this summer if they received a "reasonable offer" and says he has this "in writing".

He now says Brentford have "significantly changed its position, going against what was communicated" and is now publicly asking to go, adding that being made to stay will "tarnish" his four years at the club.

Wissa has made clear he wants to leave for St James' Park and has not been training or playing with the first team this season.

According to sources, Brentford originally wanted £40m for Wissa but the price has now increased to about £65m.

The transfer window closes at 19:00 BST on Monday.

Brentford have already lost fellow forward Bryan Mbeumo this summer to Manchester United for £65m, but signed Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth for a club record deal worth up to £42.5m.

Wissa's possible move to Newcastle is believed to be part of a series of transfers that could result in Alexander Isak joining Liverpool.

Isak is in a similar situation at Newcastle, accusing the club of "broken promises" as he tries to force an exit to the Premier League champions.

In his statement, Wissa - who has scored 49 goals in 149 games since he joined in 2021 - said: "I have stayed silent for much of the summer, but with just hours remaining of the transfer window I feel compelled make it clear that I want to leave Brentford. I believe the club are unduly standing in my way despite a series of fair offers throughout the summer.

"This has left me in a difficult and frustrating position. It saddens me to have to write that, and I maintain total respect for the club and its fans."

He added: "I ask Brentford's owners and directors to now honour their promise to let me leave in the final hours of the window."

BBC Sport reported in July that Wissa flew home early from the club's summer training camp in Portugal after making clear he wanted the move to Newcastle.

Ever since he has been in a stand-off with the club over his intention to join Eddie Howe's side.

He did return to first-team training for a short period but has gone back to working away from Keith Andrews' squad.

Wissa, who scored 19 goals in the Premier League last season, also removed all association with Brentford from his Instagram account.

He says a formal offer was submitted by another Premier League club and he was "under the impression, from all my conversations with Brentford, that there was a mutual agreement to part ways".

He added: "I want to make it clear that I have not acted unprofessionally, nor do I wish to leave Brentford on bad terms. I have been transparent in my position throughout. I have continued to communicate openly with the club and conduct myself in a way that reflects my values as both a footballer and a human being.

"In the meantime, I must do what I feel is right for my career and family and insist that Brentford honour their promise to let me join a new club and at a fair price."

BBC Sport has contacted Brentford for comment.

Analysis - 'a summer of bombshell statements'

It's the summer for bombshell statements, isn't it? First Isak - and now Wissa.

Both statements have been penned with the same ambition - to force their way out of their respective clubs.

Similarly, both are rooted in the notion that the players in question have struck non-contractual agreements with their employers to leave this summer.

But where Wissa's is different to Isak's is that he believes he has written proof "that the club would not stand in my way if a reasonable offer was received".

If Wissa can present that proof it may leave Brentford in a tricky spot. You'd imagine there will be discussions between all parties this morning over trying to establish what level of proof he has.

All that will likely come out in the wash in the coming days.

What we know now is that Wissa has become the latest player to take a drastic step in the hope of forcing a move to Newcastle he believes he is owed.