Al Nassr enter race for Yoane Wissa, ready to meet Brentford’s high valuation | OneFootball

Yoane Wissa is back in first-team training at Brentford but remains keen on leaving the club this summer, with interest in his services intensifying.

The 28-year-old returned to training on Wednesday morning following a meeting with head coach Keith Andrews, marking his first session since walking out of Brentford’s pre-season camp in Portugal on 21 July.

That unscheduled departure had sparked tensions between player and club, but talks this week appear to have eased the situation.

Still, Wissa has not abandoned his desire to secure a move before the transfer window closes, with Newcastle United long identified as his preferred destination.

The Democratic Republic of Congo international is eager to play Champions League football, and Newcastle’s sustained interest in recent weeks has fuelled that ambition.

The Magpies reportedly lodged a bid worth £25 million, but Brentford are holding out for a significantly higher fee, reportedly around £50 million.

Their valuation remains undisclosed, yet it is understood to be steep enough to complicate any immediate agreement with Premier League suitors.

Al Nassr, however, could be willing to pay that price.

According to L’Equipe, the Saudi Pro League club have made an approach in recent days and are now exploring ways to strike a deal with Brentford, Wissa, and his representatives.

Backed by substantial financial power and with Cristiano Ronaldo already on their books, the Riyadh-based side are hopeful they can persuade the forward to head to Saudi Arabia.

Al Nassr’s offer, unlike Newcastle’s, is believed to be close to what Brentford are demanding, and discussions are now ongoing with all parties involved.

Wissa, who is under contract at the Gtech Community Stadium until 2026, was also involved in the club’s Premier League media day on Tuesday, suggesting he is still being considered part of the squad – at least for now.

He was absent from last Saturday’s 1-0 friendly win over Queens Park Rangers, and it remains to be seen whether he will feature in Brentford’s next pre-season fixture against Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday.

Wissa scored 12 goals and provided four assists in all competitions two seasons ago, and last term he recorded 20 goals and five assists.

Despite the return to training, a transfer remains likely – and with Al Nassr now in the race, the list of suitors continues to grow.