Newcastle United have seen their latest move for Yoane Wissa turned down after Brentford rejected a bid worth up to £40m for the striker.
The Magpies tabled the offer earlier on Wednesday, with a structured deal including add-ons valued at £5m on top of a guaranteed £35m.
However, Brentford swiftly rejected the approach, having already knocked back a £25m bid from Newcastle earlier in the summer.
Wissa, 28, has attracted strong interest across the Premier League following a consistent spell with Brentford, where his pace and finishing have made him an important attacking outlet.
His future has been under the spotlight since he missed the Bees’ opening-day 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest, with assistant boss Keith Andrews confirming the absence was linked to speculation around his future.
The Congolese forward was, however, spotted back in training on Tuesday ahead of Brentford’s clash with Aston Villa on Saturday.
The west London club are reluctant to lose another attacking star, having already endured a turbulent summer that saw Bryan Mbeumo join Manchester United for £71m, captain Christian Norgaard leave for Arsenal, and long-serving manager Thomas Frank depart.
Losing Wissa would further destabilise a side already in transition.
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur remain in the market for reinforcements and have explored using Richarlison in a part-exchange deal for Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze.
Such a move would create space in Spurs’ attack and potentially open the door for them to rival Newcastle for Wissa’s signature.
For Newcastle, the pursuit of Wissa comes amid growing uncertainty around Alexander Isak’s future.
The Sweden international issued a fiery statement on Tuesday evening, claiming “broken promises” by the club and insisting his situation at St James’ Park “cannot continue.”
With Callum Wilson already departing earlier in the window, Newcastle remain determined to add a proven forward before the transfer deadline.
Wissa, who joined Brentford from FC Lorient in 2021 for around £8.5m, has scored 26 goals in 117 appearances for the Bees and played a key role in their recent Premier League campaigns.
His versatility across the front line makes him an attractive option for Eddie Howe, who is seeking more depth to cope with Newcastle’s heavy schedule across domestic and European competitions.
For now, however, Brentford’s stance remains firm – and Newcastle may be forced either to increase their bid further or turn to alternative targets as the window edges closer to its September 1 deadline.