Brentford have delivered a firm and unequivocal message to Newcastle United and any other potential suitors: star forward Yoane Wissa is not for sale.
The Magpies, along with several other Premier League clubs, are understood to have made tentative enquiries about the availability of the dynamic 27-year-old attacker. However, they were immediately met with a resounding rejection from the Bees' hierarchy, who consider Wissa an integral and indispensable part of their project.
Thomas Frank's Key Man Off-Limits
Wissa's importance to Thomas Frank's system cannot be overstated. Operating with intelligence and relentless energy, he has seamlessly shouldered the goalscoring burden following the departure of Ivan Toney, proving himself a genuine Premier League quality striker.
His current rich vein of form, which includes a superb goal in the recent 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, has only solidified his status as a fan favourite and a crucial cog in the Brentford machine.
No January Exit for In-Form Wissa
Any notion of a mid-season departure has been completely dismissed by the club's decision-makers. With Brentford engaged in a battle to secure their top-flight status, sanctioning the sale of one of their most potent attacking threats is viewed as unthinkable.
The club's stance is further strengthened by the fact that Wissa is currently on international duty with DR Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations. His focus, and the club's, is solely on his performances in Ivory Coast, not on a potential big-money transfer.
Newcastle's Search Continues
This rebuff means Eddie Howe and Newcastle's recruitment team must continue their search for attacking reinforcements elsewhere. While the financial power of the Saudi-backed ownership is significant, Brentford's defiant stance makes a move for Wissa a non-starter this month.
For now, Yoane Wissa remains a cornerstone of Brentford's ambitious plans, much to the delight of the Bees' faithful.
