The Magpies have held a series of discussions over Wissa as they attempt to secure a replacement for Callum Wilson, who left at the end of last season, but have been unable to reach an agreement with Brentford officials.
Their most recent approach is understood to have ended with Newcastle officials signalling a willingness to pay around £30m for Wissa, with a further £5m of potential add-ons also included in the deal, but Brentford broke off discussions yesterday and conveyed their stance that the 28-year-old is not for sale.
The Bees, who had previously been valuing the striker at £50m, have already lost their manager, Thomas Frank, this summer, as well as midfielder Christian Norgaard and forward Bryan Mbeumo.
Wissa has reacted furiously to his employers’ stance as he feels it breaks an agreement he felt was put in place last summer.
Back then, when there was also interest in his services, Wissa feels the Brentford hierarchy verbally agreed to allow him to leave this summer if a party he was interested in offered around £26m.
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The DR Congo international wants to join Newcastle as he feels this could be his best chance of securing the opportunity to play in the Champions League, and is understood to be furious that Brentford’s owners are effectively standing in his way.
Wissa flew back from the Bees’ training camp in Portugal last week to hold face-to-face talks with Brentford director of football Phil Giles. It has been reported that, as part of those talks, Wissa threatened to down tools completely and never play for the club again if they continues to stand in his way.
Giles remains in contact with Andy Howe, who is playing the lead role in most of Newcastle’s ongoing transfer discussions in the absence of a sporting director, and the two clubs are maintaining a dialogue despite the growing acrimony.
Newcastle are adamant they will not be increasing their current offer as they feel it meets the demands that Wissa claims were agreed last summer.
There is still a chance that an agreement could be reached, although it will almost certainly require a compromise from Giles and the rest of the Brentford hierarchy. The London club are understood to be considering potential replacements for Wissa, and their stance could change if they were in a position where they could make an immediate move for a new centre-forward of their own if they agreed to Newcastle’s terms.
Meanwhile, there have been no further developments relating to Alexander Isak in the last 24 hours, with the striker still on Tyneside while the rest of Newcastle’s first-team squad are in Singapore.
Howe yesterday revealed that there have been no fresh discussions over a potential new contract for the striker, and also continues to insist there has been no formal contact from Liverpool, who appear to be stepping up their own attempts to sell Luis Diaz.
“Of course, there’s things going on behind the scenes,” said Howe, in Singapore. “He will be aware he’s in the news every day, and I’m sure that’s not easy for anyone in that situation.
“Conversations that happen between Alex and the club or Alex and myself will stay private for obvious reasons. We do share a really good relationship with him. He’s been magnificent for us since he’s joined. He’s very popular in the dressing room and we’d love him to continue his journey at Newcastle.”
Isak has three years remaining on his current deal, and Newcastle’s stance under their former sporting director, Paul Mitchell, was that there was no need to initiate discussions over a new contract.
“As far as I’m aware, I don’t think there are any contract talks taking place at the moment,” added Howe. “That’ll be for a later date potentially.
“I think for now, with the situation as it is and the state of the window, in the sense that it’s hurtling towards the end of the window very quickly from our perspective, there’s still so much that could happen.”