Wissa asks Brentford to 'keep word' & allow Newcastle move

Striker Yoane Wissa has called on Brentford to "keep their word" and let him leave before the transfer deadline, accusing the club of "unduly standing in his way" of a move to Newcastle United.

With two days of the transfer window remaining, the DR Congo international is furious the west London club are refusing to sell him to Newcastle, who have had two offers rejected - the latest being £35m guaranteed, plus a further £5m in add-ons.

Wissa has made clear he wants to leave for St James' Park and has not been training or playing with the first team this season.

According to sources, Brentford originally wanted £40m for Wissa but the price has now increased to about £60m.

In a statement on social media on Sunday, Wissa - who has scored 49 goals in 149 games since he joined in 2021 - said: "I have stayed silent for much of the summer, but with just hours remaining of the transfer window I feel compelled make it clear that I want to leave Brentford. I believe the club are unduly standing in my way despite a series of fair offers throughout the summer.

"As the window comes to an end, the club has now significantly changed its position, going against what was communicated.

"This has left me in a difficult and frustrating position. The promise that I could leave this summer has not been fulfilled. It saddens me to have to write that, and I maintain total respect for the club and its fans."

He added: "Being made to stay beyond this summer will only tarnish four wonderful years at this incredible club and so I ask Brentford's owners and directors to now honour their promise to let me leave in the final hours of the window."

BBC Sport reported in July that Wissa flew home early from the club's summer training camp in Portugal after making clear he wanted the move to Newcastle.

Ever since he has been in a stand-off with the club over his intention to join Eddie Howe's side.

He did return to first-team training for a short period but has gone back to working away from Keith Andrews' squad.

Wissa, who scored 19 goals in the Premier League last season, also removed all association with Brentford from his Instagram account.

In his statement, Wissa says he held "open discussions" with the club's senior management earlier this summer about his intention to leave and said he was told the "club would not stand in my way if a reasonable offer was received. This was also put in writing".

He says a formal offer was submitted by another Premier League club and he was "under the impression, from all my conversations with Brentford, that there was a mutual agreement to part ways".

He added: "I want to make it clear that I have not acted unprofessionally, nor do I wish to leave Brentford on bad terms. I have been transparent in my position throughout. I have continued to communicate openly with the club and conduct myself in a way that reflects my values as both a footballer and a human being.

"I remain hopeful that a fair and reasonable resolution can still be found before the transfer window shuts.

"In the meantime, I must do what I feel is right for my career and family and insist that Brentford honour their promise to let me join a new club and at a fair price."

BBC Sport has contacted Brentford for comment.