Brentford set new Yoane Wissa asking price as Newcastle target deletes club from Instagram | OneFootball

Bees up price tag because of concerns about their ability to sign a replacement so late in the transfer window

Brentford have raised their asking price for Yoane Wissa as Newcastle look to wrap up a deal for the striker.

Newcastle were weighing up a £35m bid for Wissa, but are not willing to meet Brentford’s current valuation.

Wissa, who scored 19 Premier League goals last season, has made it clear he wants to leave Brentford to play in the Champions League and he was left out of their squad for Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Wissa scored 19 Premier League goals last season

John Walton/PA Wire

Wissa is determined to force a move away as he believes he was given assurances he could leave this summer, and he has now cleared all mention of Brentford and unfollowed the club on his Instagram account.

Brentford manager Keith Andrews said Wissa was not in the right headspace to play against Forest, and added after the game that he was no clearer on when his future would be resolved.

Andrews denied claims that the club-record £42.5million signing Dango Ouattara from of Bournemouth would speed up a potential deal for Wissa, confirming that Ouattara had been brought in to replace Bryan Mbeumo.

“No, I see Dango as Bryan's replacement, really, in terms of that area of the pitch,” he said. “I see him as a very subtle forward that I'm really happy we've managed to get on board.

“We weren't really aware that he would be available. (But) as soon as we knew he might be available, it was a pretty easy decision to try and get him on board. Thankfully, the club have been able to do that, so it's a significant investment for us.

“I think it will be a brilliant investment, and it's an area of the pitch, Bryan's side, if you like, right-hand side, where I think he's probably at his best. But equally, he can be versatile across the front three."

Ouattara's arrival provides a welcome boost for Brentford, who looked toothless in attack as they were ruthlessly picked apart by Forest on the weekend.

Andrews endured a chastening managerial debut against Nuno Espirito Santo's side, and will be glad to be able to call upon Ouattara for next weekend's game against Aston Villa.