Newcastle United's pursuit of Brentford forward Yoane Wissa has hit a significant obstacle after the London club turned down their £40 million proposal.
The offer comprised £35 million upfront with an additional £5 million in performance-related bonuses.
The 28-year-old Democratic Republic of Congo international has made his intentions clear, seeking a move that would provide Champions League football opportunities.
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Yoane Wissa has been desperate to join Newcastle this summer
| PADespite the player's explicit desire to join the St James' Park outfit, Brentford have maintained their stance against selling.
The rejection comes as Newcastle continue their search for attacking reinforcements following Callum Wilson's departure.
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The Magpies had previously seen a £25 million offer dismissed earlier in the transfer window.
The striker's frustration has manifested in several telling ways over recent days. On Monday, Wissa removed all Brentford-related content from his Instagram account, signalling his discontent with the current situation.
His absence from the squad for Brentford's 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest last weekend further highlighted the tension.
Manager Keith Andrews acknowledged that the forward wasn't in the appropriate mental state to participate in the match.
Following the game, Andrews admitted he had no clarity regarding when the situation might be resolved.
Reports indicate Wissa feels let down after allegedly receiving assurances that he would be permitted to leave the club during this transfer window.
The structure of Newcastle's rejected proposal reveals their valuation limits for a player entering his contract's final twelve months.
The Magpies view £40 million as their ceiling for the 28-year-old, who netted 19 Premier League goals during the previous campaign.
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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has been desperate to bolster his squad
| PABrentford's position remains uncompromising, with the club holding a crucial advantage through a unilateral extension clause in Wissa's existing deal.
This option allows the Bees to prolong his stay beyond the current term without requiring the player's agreement.
According to reports, Brentford elevated their valuation to £60 million last week, though the club maintains they haven't quoted any specific asking price to Newcastle.
The London side's reluctance stems partly from concerns about securing an adequate replacement before the window closes.
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Yoane Wissa is a top transfer target for Newcastle amid the uncertainty over Alexander Isak's future | PANewcastle's determination to secure Wissa remains evident, with the club weighing whether to submit an improved proposal in the coming days.
Eddie Howe's squad currently faces uncertainty over Alexander Isak's future, after the Swedish striker posted on Instagram expressing his wish to depart, though the club responded by declaring him unavailable for transfer.
Should Wissa's transfer materialise, Brentford would retain only Igor Thiago as their sole senior striker, despite his injury-plagued inaugural season.
The Brazilian found the net against Forest but remains the club's only experienced forward option.
With the transfer deadline approaching rapidly, Newcastle may need to explore alternative targets if Brentford continue their resistance to negotiations.