David Ornstein: Forest’s sub-£25m move rejected as Brentford hold firm | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest’s Bid for Yoane Wissa Rejected by Brentford

Wissa Remains Key Despite Brentford Upheaval

Nottingham Forest’s continued interest in Yoane Wissa has hit a familiar wall. As first reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic, Brentford have “rebuffed” Forest’s latest attempt to lure the 28-year-old forward to the City Ground. The new offer came in below the £25 million bid Forest made in January — an offer that also failed to convince the West London club.

And it’s no surprise. Wissa’s stock has soared following a stellar 2024/25 season in which he “scored 19 Premier League goals”. With just one year left on his current deal, plus an option for a further year, Brentford are under no immediate pressure to sell — especially amid broader transition within the club.

Brentford’s Summer Exodus Continues

Brentford are bracing for what Ornstein rightly described as a “huge summer of change”. Long-time manager Thomas Frank has departed for Tottenham Hotspur, taking three backroom staff with him. Club captain Christian Norgaard has moved to Arsenal, and top scorer Bryan Mbeumo is “wanted by Manchester United”, having expressed a desire to leave.

Photo: IMAGO

Against that backdrop, it’s no wonder Wissa’s valuation has skyrocketed to “more than £50m”. With Mbeumo potentially exiting and the side in managerial flux — now led by Keith Andrews — Brentford’s stance on keeping Wissa feels more like necessity than negotiation. As Ornstein states, any sale would “only add” to the growing instability at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Forest Facing Big Changes Themselves

This isn’t just about Brentford, though. Nottingham Forest are undergoing their own reshaping. A deal for Anthony Elanga to join Newcastle United has been “agreed”, and Morgan Gibbs-White is now a top target for Tottenham. Forest’s pursuit of Wissa seems both like a reaction to potential key departures and a clear signal of their attacking ambitions under Nuno Espírito Santo.

Yet the financial gap is stark. Forest’s reduced summer bid for Wissa seems symbolic of a club walking a tightrope between ambition and FFP prudence.

Wissa’s Role More Vital Than Ever

Wissa, brought in by Frank from Lorient in 2021, has developed into a Premier League-calibre attacker, and Brentford’s reluctance to sell underlines that. His importance could rise even further if Mbeumo departs — and with Thomas Frank now at Spurs, it’s not inconceivable that Wissa himself could become a target for his former manager.

For now, though, Brentford have drawn a line in the sand. Nottingham Forest, unless they return with a figure close to £50 million, will have to look elsewhere.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a Forest fan’s perspective, this one stings — not because we missed out on Wissa (again), but because it reflects the same hesitancy we’ve seen in recent windows. Wissa is proven Premier League quality. Nineteen goals last season says it all. If we’re serious about pushing up the table, this is the type of signing we need to make — not just pursue half-heartedly.

We had a £25m bid turned down in January. Now we come back with less? That doesn’t make sense. Yes, Brentford’s asking price north of £50m is steep, but that’s the current market. And if we’re willing to let Elanga leave and potentially lose Gibbs-White to Spurs, then who’s going to carry the creative and scoring burden?

It’s clear Wissa would walk into our starting XI and immediately improve us. His versatility, work rate and eye for goal are exactly what we need in a post-Elanga setup. Letting this one slip — again — feels like a lack of conviction.

The board have some big decisions ahead. Wissa might not be the only answer, but letting Brentford dictate the terms without truly testing their resolve feels like a missed opportunity. We need to act with more purpose if we’re to move beyond survival talk.