The mood on Tyneside is restless. Newcastle United, still in a state of shock after a summer of transfer near-misses and a simmering fallout with star forward Alexander Isak, are moving swiftly to secure attacking reinforcements before the window closes.
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After completing the £40m capture of Jacob Ramsey and bringing in Anthony Elanga, Malick Thiaw, and Aaron Ramsdale on loan, Newcastle’s hierarchy is confident of landing one more key piece.
Someone who could channel the spirit of a Tyneside great from the 1990s.
The latest on Newcastle's striker search
That player is Yoane Wissa.
According t and the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, the Brentford striker is expected to sign for the Magpies, ‘in the coming week’, ensuring a conclusion is near in this long-running saga.
That has been corroborated by talkSPORT, with Newcastle increasingly confident of agreeing a deal in the near future, as the Bees demand a fee in the region of £40m.
Brentford, having already rejected two bids, are close to sealing a £42.5m move for Bournemouth forward Dango Ouattara as Wissa’s replacement.
The Bees have endured a turbulent summer, losing manager Thomas Frank along with key figures Mark Flekken, Christian Nørgaard, and Bryan Mbeumo, and are reluctantly preparing to part ways with one of their most consistent performers.
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Wissa, who turns 29 in September, enjoyed the best season of his career last year—scoring 19 goals and providing 5 assists in 35 appearances.
Only Mohamed Salah netted more non-penalty goals in the Premier League.
It’s this presence in the air, coupled with composed finishing, that has drawn comparisons to Les Ferdinand.
Like ‘Sir Les,’ Wissa is joining from a London club at the same age Ferdinand arrived on Tyneside in 1995, following his arrival from Queens Park Rangers.
Ferdinand’s two-year spell yielded 41 goals in 68 games and a near-miss in the Premier League title race, cementing his place as one of Newcastle’s most beloved forwards.
Wissa will be eager to follow that example—both in goal output and connection with the fans.
Why Wissa could be a risk worth taking
Although his age means he falls outside Newcastle’s preferred recruitment profile of 24 and under, the urgency of replacing Isak has shifted priorities.
Howe values Wissa’s proven Premier League pedigree and believes his experience will help mentor younger players like William Osula and Sean Neave.
From a sporting perspective, Wissa’s arrival appears a shrewd fix to an urgent problem.
Newcastle need goals and a presence in the box – all qualities the Brentford forward provides.
His market value of €32m (£28m), as per Transfermark, suggests the £40m fee is reasonable in the current climate, particularly for a player who has hit double figures in two of his four Premier League seasons.
According to FBref, the DR Congo international is equally comfortable running the channels as he is holding up play, with data showing he outperformed Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland in pass completion (76.5%) and produced more shot-creating actions per 90 minutes than Dominic Solanke.
He also averaged 34.1 touches per game – more than Liam Delap or João Pedro – demonstrating his ability to stay involved in build-up play.
However, there are caveats. Wissa missed six games last season with an ankle injury and could be absent for several weeks in early 2026 due to the Africa Cup of Nations.
For a side aiming to challenge on multiple fronts, including a return to the Champions League, any prolonged absence from an already limited frontline could disrupt momentum.
Still, with Isak’s future all but sealed away from St James’ Park, Newcastle have little choice but to act.
Wissa’s eagerness to join, despite interest from Nottingham Forest and Saudi Pro League side Neom SC, speaks to the pull of Champions League football and the club’s trajectory under Howe.
The Magpies’ approach this summer has been aggressive.
Backed by their Saudi ownership, they have addressed several key areas, adding defensive stability through Thiaw, creativity via Ramsey, and depth in attack with Elanga.
Landing Wissa would complete a transfer window that, while not without its frustrations, could set Newcastle up for another strong campaign.
The Les Ferdinand parallels will inevitably bring a weight of expectation, with the pair notably alike due to their prowess in the air. The ex-England international scored 13 headers during his time at St James’, as per Transfermarkt, while Wissa scored four in the Premier League alone last season.
Ferdinand’s heading ability, powerful frame, and relentless work rate made him a perfect fit for Kevin Keegan’s ‘Entertainers’ and Wissa will be measured against that yardstick from the moment he steps onto the pitch.
If he adapts quickly and delivers the kind of form he showed last season, Wissa could do more than just replace Isak – he could write his own chapter in Newcastle’s modern history.
And should he hit the ground running, the Toon Army might just have another hero to salute from the Gallowgate End.
