Yoane Wissa to Miss Brentford’s Premier League Opener Amid Transfer Uncertainty

Brentford will be without star forward Yoane Wissa for their Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, manager Keith Andrews has confirmed.

🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Yoane Wissa will miss Brentford's opening Premier League game against Nottingham Forest after he asked to leave the club. ❌

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The decision follows ongoing uncertainty surrounding Wissa’s future, with Newcastle United having a £25m bid plus £5m in add-ons rejected earlier this summer. The Bees value the DR Congo international higher, but Wissa is reportedly eager to join a club offering Champions League football.

The 28-year-old left Brentford’s pre-season training camp in Portugal in July after Newcastle’s approach, even threatening not to play for the club again if a move to St James’ Park was blocked. He only returned to first-team training earlier this month after discussions with Andrews.

“I have made a decision he is not available,” said Andrews. “It has been a very disrupted pre-season… we have to focus on the players ready to play on Sunday, and I don’t think Yoane is in that space.”

Wissa scored 19 Premier League goals last season, helping Brentford secure a 10th-place finish after joining from Lorient in 2021. Despite the tension, Andrews insists their relationship remains strong and hopes to see the forward involved again in the future.

Disrupted summer for the Bees, Wissa adding more

Andrews, who replaced Thomas Frank as head coach this summer, has endured a challenging first transfer window. Brentford have already lost several key players, with Bryan Mbeumo moving to Manchester United, Christian Norgaard to Arsenal, and goalkeeper Mark Flekken to Bayer Leverkusen.

In response, the club have made high-profile signings, including England midfielder Jordan Henderson, Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, and Dutch attacking midfielder Antoni Milambo. However, the Wissa situation remains the biggest cloud over their preparations.

“The only one who really disrupts an ideal preparation is the Yoane Wissa situation,” admitted Andrews. “Would the players like him to be part of the squad? Of course they would.”

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The opener at the City Ground will be a test of Brentford’s depth and adaptability without one of their most dangerous attacking threats. Whether Wissa stays beyond the transfer deadline could define the Bees’ ambitions for the season, with Newcastle still circling and the forward’s desire for a new challenge yet to be resolved.