Nottingham Forest are already set to lose Anthony Elanga to Newcastle United, but the Magpies could deal further damage by targeting one of Forest’s top replacement targets.
Newcastle agreed a deal to sign Elanga after a £55m fee was reached with Evangelos Marinakis, with the potential of add-ons to take it closer to the £60m that the Forest owner demanded.
However, reports have suggested that the add-ons in the Elanga deal may never be triggered even if the Swedish international performs brilliantly in the North East.
This will undoubtedly be frustrating for Marinakis, but he’ll be even more annoyed after hearing who Newcastle plan to target next once the Elanga deal is announced.
Newcastle United could sign Yoane Wissa after Anthony Elanga
Newcastle have had plenty of success in a 4-3-3 system, with Elanga set to slot in on the right to support his Swedish teammate, Alexander Isak, through the middle.
Having let go of Callum Wilson, though, Eddie Howe is now on the lookout for someone who could support Isak, with Craig Hope of the Daily Mail reporting that Forest target Yoane Wissa is an option.
Hope said: “Here are two new names who I understand have been discussed in the past fortnight – Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. […] I would keep a close eye on the Wissa situation. I know he has admirers within St James’ Park and is also versatile enough to play on the wing.”
Versatility is exactly what would attract Forest to Wissa this summer after Igor Jesus signed as an option centrally, but the two could dovetail as versatile forwards for Nuno Espírito Santo.
However, it may be that neither Forest nor Newcastle are able to prise Wissa away, given Brentford’s reported stance on the Congolese forward.
How Brentford feel about selling Yoane Wissa
It’s been a summer of change for the Bees after Thomas Frank left the club, with first-team stars Christian Norgaard and Bryan Mbeumo set to follow the manager out the door.
Therefore, sanctioning a move for Wissa may not be in their best interests this summer, a feeling echoed by a report by GIVEMESPORT.
The report said: “GMS sources understand that he [new manager Keith Andrews] hopes the club can hold onto the 28-year-old striker [Wissa] so that they are not starting from scratch in his first season in charge.
“Sources also understand that during talks leading up to the appointment, there was an acceptance that they would be facing a difficult start to the season if they lose him as well as Mbeumo and Norgaard.”
Forest had a bid rejected for Wissa in January, and it may be worth testing Brentford’s stance on keeping him at the club with another offer, but it remains to be seen where his valuation stands and whether Newcastle could swoop in first.
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